TNAG-1101-FCO40-1351-Legislation-on-homosexuality-in-Hong-Kong-including--Report--1981 — Page 488

CONFIDENTIAL

GRS 2250

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 262250Z SEPTEMBER 81

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDO TELEGRAM NUMBER 1707 OF 26 SEPTEMBER

INFO ROUTINE F C O

FOR FORD

FROM SCOTT

334

Mick 38011

KXCARVED IN PASAVET NO. 51 2 8 SEP 1981

DESK OFFICER

NDEX

No

PA

USTRY

ction Takeh

(.4.E

3019

Piro 3019

TO: SOPY

M 1 P T QUESTION AND ANSWER BRIEF AS FOLLOWS:

QUESTION AND ANSWER BRIEF:

see 136

1. Q. HAS GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED THE COMMISSION'S REPORT ?.

A. THE GOVERNMENT HAS RECEIVED THE REPORT, HAS STUDIED

IT AND IS TAKING ACTION ON VARIOUS MATTERS.

(AVOID BEING DRAWN INTO WHETHER GOVERNMENT HAS ''ACCEPTED'' THE REPORT, OR SOME PARTS AND NOT OTHERS, THE MAIN CONCLUSIONS (P 199) ON THE TERMS OF REFERENCE ARE OF COURSE SATISFACTORY BUT GOVERNMENT DOES NOT ACCEPT THAT THE CRITICISMS OF C/P AND A/G

INVALIDATE FULL CONFIDENCE IN THEM (SEE Q.3, 4, 18-21)).

2. Q. WHY IS NO PRESS CONFERENCE BEING HELD TO PRESENT THE

REPORT ?.

A. IT IS THE REPORT OF AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION OF INQUIRY,

WHICH HAS COMPLETED ITS FUNCTIONS. THE REPORT GOES INTO THE

PUBLIC RECORD AND THE FINDINGS STAND ON THEIR OWN. AS ALREADY STATED, THE GOVERNMENT HAS RECEIVED THE REPORT AND IS TAKING

APPROPRIATE ACTION.

3. Q. DOES ANY DOUBT REMAIN THAT MACLENNAN COMMITTED SUICIDE

OR THAT THERE WAS A CONSPIRACY TO DRIVE HIM TO IT ?.

A. THE COMMISSION REPORT STATES UNEQUIVOCALLY AND

ABSOLUTELY CLEARLY THAT IT WAS SUICIDE AND THERE IS NO QUESTION

OF ANY CONSPIRACY OR PLOT.

4. Q. WOULD THE GOVERNMENT AGREE THAT THE REPORT REVEALS SERIOUS

DEFECTS OR MAL-ADMINISTRATION ON THE PART OF GOVERNMENT

DEPARTMENTS OR ON THE PART OF INDIVIDUALS ?

•

A. NO. (THE COMMISSION REFERS TO "’ECZEMA'', TO A NUMBER

OF DEFECTS'' MORE IN THE NATURE OF HUMAN FRAILTY AND ERRORS THAN A ''DEFECTIVE SYSTEM'').

5. Q. DOES GOVERNMENT AGREE THAT THE MOTIVES OF PEOPLE WHO

CAMPAIGNED FOR AN INQUIRY WERE IMPROPER ?.

A. IT IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO COMMENT ON THIS

QUESTION. CONSIDERABLE PUBLIC CONCERN WAS EXPRESSED BY A NUMBER

OF PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL DECIDED TO APPOINT THE

CONFIDENTIAL

/ COMMISSION

35