CONFIDENTIAL
PERSONAL
GOVERNMENT HOUSE
HONG KONG.
RECEIVED AN DZIES Na, 69
29 JAMIINUS
HWD 18/6
10th January 1968
1446
Dear Arthur
I am sending you directly my copy (attached) of an Ex. Co. paper on the Legislative Programme of the Labour Department: in view of previous discussions both when you were here and when the Minister came, I think it may be of interest both to you and to Lord Shepherd.
This paper was considered on 9th January in Ex. Co., and the recommendation in paragraph 6 was accepted. Unofficial Members really only made two general points on it: first, that in anything that was said on the subject, too much detail should be avoided as it was important not to commit members to anything before they had had a chance to consider it in detail; and, second, that we should be careful not to be rushed into any legislation unsuitable to Chinese attitudes and habits of thought or the realities of the situation in Hong Kong by pressures resulting from the events of 1967.
In this latter connection, there are in fact only two items of the programme (apart from legisla- tion connected with fireworks) which result from ideas arising during and after recent events, and one partially so arising. These are:-
(a) x) Joint Consultation The possibility of legislation is a new thought, although the Department has been pressing Joint Con- sultation for a dozen years to my certain knowledge. What is also new is a somewhat
Sir Arthur Galsworthy, K.C.M.G., Commonwealth Office, London, S.W.1.
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