TNAG-1101-FCO40-1351-Legislation-on-homosexuality-in-Hong-Kong-including--Report--1981 — Page 546

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ANNEX A

the MacLennan Case

The Secretary for Security (Mr. L. M. DAVIES)

and the Commissioner of Police (Mr. R. T. M. HENRY)

attended before the Council for the first part of the

discussion of this item.

The Governor said that fresh allegations were

continuing to appear in the press and that the public mind

was now so confused that it would probably be impossible

to satisfy the general public by conventional Government

channels that all aspects of the affair had been properly

handled. He was, therefore, seeking the Council's

advice as to the next step; in particular as to whether

it would be appropriate to appoint a Commission of

Inquiry to investigate and to pronounce authoritatively

on the facts as they are, and whether such an Inquiry

would be acceptabel to the public and to the police.

The Commissioner of Police said that so far there

had been relatively little interest in the case among the

junior ranks of the Police Force. An Inquiry would put

the Force on the defensive but would lead to vindication

of the police in the end. He favoured an Inquiry but regarded the terms of reference as vital in securing acceptance by

the Force; they should make it clear that the Inquiry

was proposed because of the evident public confusion

arising from all the allegations made following the

inquest, and not because of the inquest itself. He asked

that in the event of an Inquiry being ordered, he be

permitted to tell the Force before the decision was released

to the media.