CHINA NAIL 5/9/68
Bornacchi claims
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LORD SHEPHERD "BRAINWASHED"
FAE Minister of State for Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Chepherd, has been "brain- washed" by senior officials on the question of Hongkong's future, claimed Mr Brook Bernacchi, Chairman of the Reform Club, today.
He said Lord Shepherd's opinion seemed to be that "any major change in Hongkong government would upset the applecart over relations with China, Taiwan and the United States."
Mr Bernacchi recently had an hour-long dis- cussion with Lord Shepherd in London.
He said it appeared Lord Shepherd had reached this view after contacts with top government advisers locally.
As a result the British government was prepared to make reforms only at local government level.
Mr Bernacchi said: "Lord Shepherd obviously feels it is inadvisable to change the Legislative Council.
"But he did appreciate that it was bad for the man-in-the- street to have no one to re- present him."
The Minister had promised to consider::
O The establishment of an ombudsman who would have "more power than the govern ment though not the Governor" --a point which Lord Shepherd himself suggested and on which he was very keen."
012
0 Representation for two elected Urban Councillors Legco with the Governor's approval,
Reform of the Urban Council enlarging its power to include all "the day-to-day in- terests of the public that were not of all outside political nature."
Mr
These concessions, said Bernacchi, did not go far enough "but half a piece of bread is
better than nothing."
Lord Shepherd was apparently opposed to any major change in
Legco in so far as direct elec- tions were concerned.
This Was because he thought greater democracy. would lead to attempts by local political parties, the Nationalists and Com- munists, to gain control.
Said Mr Bernacchi: "I made it clear I did not agree with him on this, but he seemed to be echoing the views of senior gov- ernment officials here.”
ADVICE
Lord Shepherd had given the impression that he would not deliberately act contrary to the advice of the Governor, Sir David Trench, on matters of Hongkong policy, he said.
"At the same time he indicat- ed that the suggestions made during the interview for an ombudsman and more local government might already have been put to the government here.
"He also seemed prepared to express his views on these sub- jects very forcibly," said Mr Bernacchi.
Lord Shepherd had re- vealed that he was likely to visit Hongkong later this year and would contact the Reform Club, which has a 30,000 membership.
The expiry of the New Terri- tories lease had also been raised at the meeting, Mr Bernacchi
-Peter Cook
disclosed.
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