TNAG-1101-FCO40-1351-Legislation-on-homosexuality-in-Hong-Kong-including--Report--1981 — Page 603

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on honosexuality through procuring. These are important targets since triad connections, protection, and use of "muscle" are all likely to be involved.

The second targets should be homosexuals who abuse young boys (say of the age of 183 and under) or other persons under mental or other disability - as opposed to indulging in homosexual activities with consenting adults.

The third targets should be homosexuals against when credible evidence emerges during other investigations; by credible evidence I mean the direct evidence of persons directly concerned or with personal knowledge of what occurred, as opposed to hearsay, gossip or mere suspicion.

Fourthly, if specific complaints of homosexual practices are made by members of the public to the Police, then of course they must be acted upon in the normal way.

In the investigations of the cases referred to above, I expect that leads pointing to practising homosexuals will be bound to crop up. Such leads should generally only be followed up either if they assist in the prosecution of a procurer, or if the abuse of young persons is suspected to have occurred. I consider in the context of the present situation with regard to crime in Hong Kong and the need to choose those areas of crime in which limited police resources should be deployed, that it is not necessary to follow up suspicions of homosexuality unless they come within the criteria I have described above.

An exception to the above guidance in relation to consenting adults should be made in the case of credible "leads" against either members of the Judiciary or of the Attorney General's Chambers or of other lawyers in active practice in the Courts or of the Police. Assuming such leads to be credible, then these should be followed up because it is unacceptable to have those charged with the enforcement of the law themselves to be deliberately breaking it. Each such lead must of course be individually assessed and common sense applied in judging its credibility. Hong Kong seems to breed rumours and wild allegations (as indeed has already been shown in some instances in Rockcorry itself) and it would cause unnecessary public alarm and be a waste of resources if every incredible allegation was pursued, or if allegations were further pursued once they were shown not to be credible.

It is I suppose possible that leads may appear pointing at very senior police officers or, similarly, members of my chambers. These should be reported to me personally at once and I will decide the manner in which the enquiries should proceed - to do otherwise would place more junior police officers in a difficult and invidious position.