TNAG-1101-FCO40-1351-Legislation-on-homosexuality-in-Hong-Kong-including--Report--1981 — Page 490

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11. Q. WHAT IS GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON THE EMPLOYMENT AND DISCIPLIN- ARY ACTION AGAINST HOMOSEXUALS IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE ?. IS IT UNDER REVIEW ?. IN PARTICULAR, IS THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE CONSIDERING

THIS ?.

A. THE REPORT, PARA 75, STATES THERE WAS NO POLICY ON THE ISSUE IN THE POLICE FORCE. IN FACT, THERE IS A LONG-STANDING PRACTICE IN THE CIVIL SERVICE AS A WHOLE IN THE HANDLING OF SUCH CASES. KNOWN HOMOSEXUALS HAVE NOT KNOWINGLY BEEN RECRUITED TO THE CIVIL SERVICE. AS FOR SERVING OFFICERS, EACH CASE WHICH HAS COME TO NOTICE HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED

AND DEALT WITH ON ITS MERITS. THE TREATMENT OF INDIVIDUAL CASES WILL CONTINUE TO BE ON A CONFIDENTIAL BASIS.

12. Q. WHY IS IT DIFFICULT TO EMPLOY HOMOSEXUALS IN THE

CIVIL SERVICE ?.

A. THERE ARE TWO MAIN AREAS OF DIFFICULTY:

(A) POSTS WHICH FOR SECURITY REASONS REQUIRE THAT OFFICERS MUST NOT BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO BLACKMAIL OR PRESSURE, FOR EXAMPLE OFFICERS

INVOLVED IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW,

(B) WHERE IT IS OBJECTIONABLE TO EMPLOY A KNOWN HOMOSEXUAL, FOR

EXAMPLE IN EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL WELFARE OR PRISONS WORK WHERE

THERE IS FREQUENT CONTACT WITH YOUNG OR VULNERABLE PERSONS. THE

PRACTICE OF HOMOSEXUAL ACTS IS OF COURSE A CRIMINAL OFFENCE.

13. Q. WILL THERE BE A ''WITCHHUNT'' OF HOMOSEXUALS IN THE

CIVIL SERVICE 7.

A. NO, THERE WILL NOT. EXISTING PRACTICE, AS DESCRIBED, WILL CONTINUE.

14. Q. HOW MANY OFFICERS HAVE VOLUNTARILY LEFT THE SERVICE OR BEEN

TERMINATED FOR HOMOSEXUALITY IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS 7.

A. FIGURES ARE NOT KEPT BUT THE NUMBER IS SMALL.

15. Q. IT IS SAID THAT IN ANY POPULATION QUITE LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE HAVE HOMOSEXUAL TENDENCIES. WHY IS THE NUMBER

APPARENTLY SO SMALL IN THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE 7.

A. ACTION IS ONLY TAKEN IN RESPECT OF KNOWN, THAT IS REASONABLY PROVEN, CASES OF HOMOSEXUALITY. TO BE OF A HOMOSEXUAL TENDENCY, WHETHER CONFESSED OR NOT, IS NOT AN OFFENCE.

16. Q. DOES GOVERNMENT HAVE ANY COMMENT ON THE COMMISSION'S CRITICISM OF MRS ELLIOTT, BEARING IN MIND WHAT THE COMMISSION

ON THE 1966 DISTURBANCES SAID ABOUT HER ?.

A. THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO COMMENT AT ALL ON THIS MATTER.

17. Q. WHY HAS NO ACTION BEEN TAKEN UNTIL NOW ON MATTERS

RAISED BY THE REPORT ?.

A. ACTION HAS IN FACT BEGUN ON A NUMBER OF MATTERS. THE

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