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RECEND (OSEMARY NO. 51
INDEX
3C SFP 1981
DESK OFFICER
NO
PA ८ ६.६
30/9
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IMMEDIATE
GR 430
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 260247Z SEP 81
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1706 OF 26 SEPTEMBER
INFO F C O
FOR FORD FROM SCOTT
See (35)
1. MACLENNAN REPORT. THIS WILL BE PUBLISHED AT 3 PM HONG KONG
TIME 29 SEPTEMBER, WITH A BRIEF GOVERNMENT STATEMENT AS FOLLOWS:
QUOTE
T
THE GOVERNMENT TODAY PUBLISHED THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY CONDUCTED BY THE HON. MR. JUSTICE YANG INTO THE MACLENNAN CASE. THE FULL REPORT IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE AND, SEPARATELY, SUMMARIES IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE ARE NOW ON SALE IN THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE.
2. THE REPORT IS A SELF-EXPLANATORY DOCUMENT, AND THE COMMISSION HAS RECORDED IT CONCLUSIONS IN RESPECT OF EACH OF ITS TERMS OF REFERENCE.
3. A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE REPORT CONTAINED
NO SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS, IT HAD BEEN CAREFULLY SCRUTINISED BY GOVERNMENT AND THOSE PARTS WHICH REQUIRED PARTICULAR CONSIDERATION AND FOLLOW-UP ACTION HAD BEEN REFERRED TO THE
APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES.
4. HE SAID THAT FOR EXAMPLE, THE COMMENTS ON CERTAIN POLICE PROCEDURES INCLUDING THE MANNER OF INVESTIGATIONS, THE HANDLING OF INFORMERS, THE INVESTIGATION OF SUICIDES OR SUDDEN DEATHS AND THE PROCEDURE FOR ARREST, HAD BEEN REFERRED TO THE COMMISSIONER OF
POLICE. CERTAIN MATTERS HAD BEEN REFERRED TO THE COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE OFFICE. OTHER MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED INCLUDED WHETHER IN THE LIGHT OF THE COMMISSION'S FINDINGS, DISCIPLINARY OR OTHER PROCEEDINGS WERE REQUIRED INTO THE CONDUCT OF ANY PUBLIC OFFICER.
UNQUOTE.
2. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS BEEN INFORMED OF THE GENERAL LINE TO BE TAKEN - QUOTE THE LINE TO BE TAKEN IS THAT THE REPORT HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY THE GOVERNMENT, CAREFULLY STUDIED, AND THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING ACTION ON THE VARIOUS NECESSARY MATTERS. IT IS THE REPORT OF AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION, AND IT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. CARE WILL BE TAKEN TO AVOID ANY IMPRESSION THAT GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS'' THE REPORT, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THE GENERAL CONCLUSIONS (AS TO SUICIDE, IMPROPERLY MOTIVATED INVESTIGATIONS, CONSPIRACY ETC.,) ARE INDEED ACCEPTABLE, THE CRITICISMS OF FOR EXAMPLE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE ARE NOT.
UNQUOTE. སྟག་ཞིག་སམ་དམག་
-
3. QUESTION AND ANSWER BRIEF FOLLOWS IN SEPARATE TELEGRAM.
4. PLEASE DISSEMINATE AS NECESSARY TO GRIFFITHS AND HENRY.
AH Sem
Commé y Patin
5. PLEASE INFORM GRIFFITHS AND HENRY THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS PERSONALLY AUTHORISED THE STATEMENT THAT HE HAS FULL CONFIDENCE IN THEM.
6. YOU WILL NOTICE FROM QUESTION 21 THAT THE AG HIMSELF MUST DECIDE WHETHER TO APPLY TO THE GOVERNOR FOR PERMISSION TO MAKE ANY STATEMENT, THE SAME APPLIES OF COURSE TO THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE. THIS IS NOT ONLY A FACT BUT ALSO GIVES BOTH AN IMMEDIATE ANSWER TO ANY QUESTIONS WHILE THEY CONSIDER WHAT THEY MAY WISH
TO DO.
7. I SHALL ADVISE A FEW SELECTED EDITORS THAT IF THEY WISH A DISCUSSION, I SHALL BE WILLING TO SEE THEM.
MACLEHOSE
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