TNAG-1101-FCO40-1351-Legislation-on-homosexuality-in-Hong-Kong-including--Report--1981 — Page 564

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to the 1978 Yuen Long affair.

Illingworth from the line of fire but it certainly leaves the CP (who was the man most responsible for MacLennan not being

offered a new contract) with very little room to manoevre.

This concession may have removed

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It is inevitable that under rigorous cross-examination

there will be conflicts in the evidence of the senior police officers

and it seems likely that some will attempt to shift the blame onto

others. It is not unlikely that there will arise a situation where

Counsel for the SIU is attacking the Commissioner and directorate

level Police witnesses and Counsel for the Police (who is mostly

seen to represent those officers) attacking the SIU witnesses.

Such a clash would tend to polarise attitudes between the rank -

and-file officers and the "top brass". The effect of this kind

of spectacle on Police morale might well be similar to that

resulting from the formation of the JPOA,

d)

It is possible that the airing of the accusations of homosexuality

against the CP may cause his resignation. Were he to resign

now, for whatever reason, the public impression would be that

he was a homosexual. Such an impression of the head of a

disciplined force like the RHKPF cannot be good for morale.

Were the Commissioner directed to hold the hearings in camera

it is only his Report which would be made public so that, one

assumes, only relevant and proven misconduct will become

publicly known (as distinct from irrelevant but sensational accusations) as is only proper.

The effect on the office of the Governor if HE is required to

give evidence:

The Governor can be subpoened to give evidence should the

Commission so decide, despite the fact that he established the

Commission in the first place. The CS has expressed concern

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