TNAG-2093-FCO40-2979-Royal-Hong-Kong-Police-Force-1990 — Page 83

CONFIDENTIAL

R. HRB 931/1

RECT

S

161531 MDLOAN 5907

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELNO 1641

OF 05154OZ SEPTEMBER 90

д

YOUR TELNO 2593: POLICE AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE.

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TUR.

MANY THANKS FOR THE HELPFUL AND COMPREHENSIVE BACKGROUND IN

MESSRS GLOVER AND LI DULY CALLED ON THE HEAD OF HONG KONG DEPARTMENT ON 5 SEPTEMBER TO PUT THEIR CASE FOR IMPROVED TERMS

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AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE. THEY HANDED OVER A COPY OF THE LATEST SUBMISSION (NO 17) TO THE POLICE SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF DISCIPLINED SERVICES, SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE, TOGETHER WITH A COPY OF THEIR PETITION TO SIR DAVID FORD. THEY SPOKE ON PREDICTABLE LINES, EMPHASISING RECRUITMENT DIFFICULTIES AND HIGH WASTAGE RATES, AND LAYING PARTICULAR STRESS ON WHAT THEY REGARD AS AN ACUTE MORALE PROBLEM WITHIN THE SERVICE, THE RISK OF MILITANT ACTION BY DISGRUNTLED JUNIOR OFFICERS, AND THE IMPORTANCE TO BE ATTACHED TO THE ABILITY OF THE POLICE FORCE EFFECTIVELY TO TAKE OVER THE BORDER DUTIES CURRENTLY UNDERTAKEN BY THE GARRISON.

3.

PAUL SPOKE ALONG THE LINES SUGGESTED IN PARA 7 OF TUR. HE ACKNOWLEDGED THE IMPORTANCE OF HONG KONG HAVING AN EFFECTIVE AND WELL MOTIVATED POLICE FORCE IN THE RUN UP TO 1997 AND UNDERTOOK TO DRAW THE POLICE STAFF ASSOCIATIONS' CONCERNS TO THE ATTENTION OF MINISTERS. BUT HE LEFT THE VISITORS IN NO DOUBT THAT THE PAY ISSUE WAS ESSENTIALLY A MATTER FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.

PAUL HANDED OVER A BRIEF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM LORD CAITHNESS OF THE POLICE STAFF ASSOCIATIONS' LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE, IN WHICH THE MINISTER INDICATED THAT THERE WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM TO MEET THE STAFF ASSOCIATIONS, TOGETHER WITH THOSE OF THE OTHER DISCIPLINED SERVICES, IN THE COURSE OF HIS FORTHCOMING VISIT.

5. WE THINK THAT THIS WAS A USEFUL ENCOUNTER, IN THAT IT GAVE THE INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED AN OPPORTUNITY TO LET OFF STEAM, WHILE LEAVING THEM IN NO DOUBT THAT THE ISSUES ARE FOR THEM TO SORT OUT WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. WE WERE HOWEVER STRUCK BY

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