WE PROBABLY NEED TO EXPAND ITS PRESENT STRENGTH OF 25,000 (TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND) ONLY TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO TAKE OVER THE ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION ACTIVITIES OF THE GARRISON, SAY BY 700 MEN, PLUS #TS SEARCH AND PESCUE ROLE. THE POLICE WOULD BE SUPPORTED IN EMERGENCIES BY THREE OF HONG KONG'S EXISTING CIVIL VOLUNTEEP ORGANISATIONS (OPEN SQUAPE BRACKETS) CIVIL AID SERVICES, AUXIL HARY MEDICAL SERVICES AND AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE (CLOSE SQUARE BRACKETS) SUITABLY REORGANISED. FROM WHAT WE KNOW OF CHINESE THINKING WE BELIEVE THAT THIS DECISION WILL BE WELCOME. * WISHED TO COMMUNICATE PT AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY.
4. AT THE SAME TIME, WE SHALL NEED TO CONTINUE, AND INDEED ACCELERATE, OUR EXISTING POLICY OF BRINGING TALENTED LOCAL OFFICERS INTO POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILETY IN THE POLICE FORCE WHEREVER THIS IS JUSTIFIED ON MERIT. THE PROPORTION OF EXPATRIATE GAZETTED OFFICERS AT THE TOP OF THE OFFICER RANKS OF THE POLICE IS CURRENTLY TOO HIGH. OFFICERS BELOW THEM LACK SUFFICIENT EXPERIENCE OF SENIOR COMMAND. WE CANNOT PREDICT EXACTLY HOW MANY EXPATRIATES WILL WISH TO PROLONG THEIR CAREERS AFTER 1997: WE CEPTAINLY HOPE THAT MANY WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION TO STAY: AND AS A PRACTICAL MATTER THERE WILL BE A NEED FOR CONTINUITY. BUT WE MUST MEANWHILE IN COMMON PRUDENCE PRESS AHEAD WITH ENLARGING THE LOCAL POOL OF SUCCESSORS. THE CHINESE WILL BE AWARE FROM THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS TO LEGCO THAT THE HKG HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING THIS ISSUE. THEY WILL BE FOLLOWING THE USUAL PATTERN OF CONSULTATION WITH THE POLICE FORCE ON PT.
5. AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND WE PLAN TO LET IT BE KNOWN SHORTLY IN HONG KONG THAT HMG DO NOT FAVOUR THE CONCEPT OF AN INTERNAL SECURITY FORCE: AND THAT WE ANTICIPATE SOME FUTURE EXPANSION OF THE POLICE FORCE. MEANWHILE, CONSULTATIONS ARE GOING ON WITH THE POLICE FORCE ON PROPOSALS TO DEVELOP THE POTENTIAL OF LOCAL OFFICERS AND TO ANDVANCE THEM THROUGH THE FORCE SO THAT BY THE END OF THE 1990S THERE WILL BE MORE LOCAL GAZETTED OFFICERS THAN OVERSEAS ONES. WE WILL BE PLANNING TO ACHIEVE THIS END WITH THE MINIMUM OF DESTRUPTION TO THE FORCE.
ENDS.
YOUDE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT : RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
RESEARCH D (FE)
D/HD PUSD
MR WILSON
-2-
SECRET
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