GRS 247
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 25171OZ FEB 82.
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
-25393
TELEGRAM NUMBER 129 OF 25 FEBRUARY.
36
1
(52)
HKK 380/2
сае
No
24/3. Af22/3/
See $4
55
YOUR TELNO 179: EMPLOYMENT OF HOMOSEXUALS IN CIVIL SERVICE
1.
WE NOW HAVE TO PREPARE DRAFT REPLY FROM LPS TO LETTER
FROM MR LEON BRITTAN MP ENCLOSING ONE FROM A CONSTITUENT
CRITICISING HONG KONG POLICY ON THIS.
2.
WE SEE NO DIFFICULTY IN SUPPORTING YOUR POLICY ON EMPLOY-
MENT OF MALE HOMOSEXUALS WHILST THE LAW IS UNCHANGED. HOWEVER
THE SITUATION IS LESS CLEAR-CUT ON FEMALE HOMOSEXUALS. AS YOU
SAY IN PARAGRAPH 2 OF TUR LESBIANISM IS NOT A CRIME IN ITSELF.
THE TWO POSSIBLE OFFENCES YOU REFER TO ARE LIKELY TO BE EXTREMELY
RARE AND IN PRACTICAL TERMS THE SECURITY RISKS, PARTICULARLY
INVOLVING JUNIOR CIVIL SERVANTS, SEEM SLIGHT. THUS PARAGRAPH 3 OF THE CIRCULAR PROHIBITING OUTRIGHT THE EMPLOYMENT OF KNOWN HOMO-
SEXUALS OF EITHER SEX COULD BE CHALLENGED.
IT COULD BE JUSTIFIED WHEN DEALING WITH SENSITIVE POSTS
BUT SEEMS OPEN TO QUESTION IF APPLIED SERVICE-WIDE IRRESPECTIVE
OF RANK OR GRADE.
3. WE MAY WELL HAVE TO DEAL WITH FURTHER PQ'S. PARLIAMENTARY -
INTEREST MAY BE HEIGHTENED BY HMG'S INTENTION TO BRING
NORTHERN IRELAND LEGISLATION INTO LINE WITH THE REST OF THE UK.
WHILE WE FULLY UNDER STAND THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
IN HONG KONG WE DO THEREFORE NEED FURTHER
ARGUMENTS IN DEFENCE OF YOUR POLICY. IT WOULD BE
HELPFUL TO BE ABLE TO STRESS THAT THE GUIDANCE WOULD BE APPLIED
ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS BOTH AS REGARDS RECRUITMENT AND DISMISSAL
GRATEFUL FOR REPLY DESKBY 020900Z MARCH.
CARRINGTON
LIMITED
нкаят
LEGAL ADVISERS
SECURITY D MR DONAND
1
CONFIDENTIAL
COPIES TO..
HONG KONG GOUT OFFICE,
LONDON.
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