CONFIDENTIAL
Reference...
Note by Lord Shepherd on his visit to Hong Kong.
EXTRA C T.
135
18. There has been and probably still is, a marked
reluctance by the Administration to move in the field of
labour and social reform. Three reasons may be ascribed
to this:
(1) Fear of upsetting the competitiveness of Hong Kong
industries.
(ii) A traditional attitude which assumes that the Chinese,
having been granted the basic needs, should be left
alone to develop their own standards.
(iii) A lack of detailed knowledge and expertise on how
reform might be achieved.
Let us examine these reasons
On competitiveness;
this
point has certainly been valid in the past and still is to a
certain extent; but with the expansion and development of
industry there would now appear to be room for gradual progress
in the field of labour and social reform. The traditional }
attitude may have made sense some years ago. Not today. There
is a new generation of young Chinese, born in Hong Kong, who,
through education and contact with Western ideas, will want
to know what Government proposes to do for them. Unless the
energies of these young people can be channelled they will become
an even increasing source of trouble makers. Lack of detailed
knowledge on how reform might be achieved still exists, This
has bred an atmosphere of timidity and caution which, in present
circumstances, needs to be changed, and changed quickly.
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES No. 63 23 NOV1967