InJanuary1980,ayoungpoliceofficernamedJohnMacLennancommittedsuicideinhisHoManTinflat.Hisdeathcamemerehoursbeforehewastobearrestedforcommittinghomosexualactsstill,atthatpoint,illegalinHongKong.Butthiswasmorethanthedesperateactofayoungman,ashamedandafraid;bothhisdeathandthesubsequentinvestigationwereasmokescreenforascandalthatwenttotheheartoftheestablishment.
MacLennancametoHongKongfromScotlandduringatumultuoustimeinHongKong’shistory.ThegovernorshipofSirMurrayMacLehosewastobeatimeofreformandprogress,butwiththatremitcamethedeterminationofmanytosuppressscandalsandsilencethosewhostirreduptrouble.BoththelifeanddeathofJohnMacLennanseemedtomanyofthoseinpowertothreatenthestabilityofoneofBritain’slastcolonies.
