TNAG-0817-FCO40-1023-Police-corruption-Independent-Commission-Against-Corruption--1978 — Page 37

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to play in this case. Mr Easey is himself a former member of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force, and one of his particular preoccupations

He does has been the need to eradicate corruption from the Force. not have a great deal of sympathy with the Yaumatei group, nor does he expect them to receive very enthusiastic support from MP's or such organisations as the Police Federation.

5. The teachers' delegation asked for an interview with

thr

Lord Goronwy-Roberts. As the dispute in which they were involved was at the time the subject of an official enquiry in Hong Kong they were told that it would not be appropriate for the Minister of State to receive them. They were however allowed to put their case to officials. Should the Yaumatei group representatives also ask to see Ministers, I recommend that their request should be refused. There is a case for offering them an interview with officials, on the ground that we should be accessible to people from Hong Kong who claim to have grievances against the Hong Kong Government.But there is nothing to prevent the former police officers from petitioning the Governor, the Secretary of State or The Queen in the normal way, and there is every likelihood that they would exploit the fact that they had been received at the FCO in a way which

I therefore would cause considerable resentment in Hong Kong.

recommend that they should not be received by officials either. 6. Hong Kong telegram No 1329 also reports that four of the defendents in the first of the three trials of Yaumatei police officers on conspiracy charges have been found to have no case to answer. This illustrates the difficulty of obtaining convictions in such cases. The Hong Kong Government will defer recommendations on what, if any further action should be taken until the outcome of all three trials is known.

21 November 1978

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выстрии

R JT McLaren

Hong Kong and General Department

I agree

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Magd

Wer bilengd.

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