LAST
REE
ALA
ALI.
no Carter
RECEIVED IN
REGION N.51
31 JUL 1969
KKC1/10
Requliy
P.A.
Mr. Fingland
NOTES FOR BRIEFING OF UK PARLIAMENTARIANS
VISITING THE FAR EAST
371
The Political Situation
There is little in the Hong Kong situation today to remind us
of the troubles of 1967 when local communists and their supporters
sought to import into the Colony the tactics and activities of the
cultural revolution in China. Occasionally incidents involving
militant communists occur but for the most part the communist
leadership in the Colony, taking its lead from Peking, is once more
concerned to extend its influence by non-violent means and to build
up the economic value of the Colony to China.
2. As has been said repeatedly in Parliament, constitutional
progress towards representative and responsible Government in Hong
Kong is not possible.
It would not be tolerated by China which
regards the Colony as Chinese territory to be recovered in due course.
3. In order to enlarge the participation of the people in the
business of government a review of local government organisation
was instituted some three years ago. There have been several
reports and a fairly lengthy process of sounding public opinion on
this issue. Lord Shepherd recently stated in the House of Lords
that he hoped it would not now be long before firm proposals would
be put forward.
The economic position
4. The events of 1967 had very little effect on Hong Kong's trade,
although imports from China, particularly of foodstuffs, dropped
considerably. Since then there has been an export led boom, with
current exports showing a 25%-27% increase over 1968 figures.
/ In the
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