8
S.C.M. POST, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 1969
South China Morning Post How much can two
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THE VISITING MPs
EMBERS of Parlia There is some merit in ment are in an in- complaints about the pro- vidious position when they gram arranged for the two
MPs do in 10 days?
long must 2
How long
person spend in a resettlement estate to see that living conditions are not ideal?
Just how much can two men see of Hongkong and its people in 10 days?
These are two which spring to mind
by Margaret Spackman
come in for heavy criticism, briefings of the visitors to be not only from the Press but strictly behind closed doors. also from Government heads And the Government was who want the MPs to spend not the worst offender in this more time in their depart- respect. ments.
Federation of Hongkong Industry officials agreed only to allow
to be the MPS
come to Hongkong on in- Labour MPs, Messrs Jones reading recent criticism of the ous for Mr Jones from the photographed being briefed
Others feel these "tourists" the organisers seem to low them to get a pretty clear
the
Mr Royle
or itd
ad
sa
th
for
ru
by ga
They saw open drains ag which could be death traps ex for children and adults go
The Department of Com- merce and Industry, for questions
instance, is particularly anxi- when formation tours, mainly be-
see that their visitors took cotton district of Lancashire at the Federation offices after Government officials forgot to British MPs tour
their overcoats or to spend several days briefing they were begged to do so cause so many people have and Walden, at present in visiting
were ga it is
by Pressmen. very program of Hongkong.
local textile men on the pro-
provided with raincoats different ideas about the the Colony
For the MPs the day's pro- umbrellas, I tramped through purpose of these visits, heavily loaded with official
No one, not even the proto- posed new tariff that could
were packed tight. Kowloon Tsai squatter area, up the cause so much harm to Hong- grams Many feel such visits are business. This is neces- col officer who drew
Almost every hour was taken the Tai Hang Tung and Tze W sti their only opportunity to sary (and what they want- itinerary, Government offi- kong's export trade.
cials or the visiting MPs This brings us to the ques- up with briefings, asking and Wan Shan resettlement estates circumvent
in deaf local ed) a
and
first-time as
and with three MPs. questions answering themselves would claim that tion of just how much can Government and get their visitors there had to be a the program allowed them to two men do in ten days. They touring factories, depart-
The complaints across to some- high degree of
ground at Kowloon official see and speak
to all of the obviously must look at hous- ments, resettlement estates,
́construction projects Tsai was wet and squelchy one without vested inter- guidance to fit a compre- people they felt they should ing and resettlement, social new
and so on.
but the MPS insisted on see welfare programs, ests to protect and who can hensive look at Hongkong contact during their visit.
But do something about them. into a mere ten days.
At the end of each day walking over every available
inch of it. But the program does al- work of the CDOs and make
would arrive, some- up their own minds on the they Ombudsman question.
times hours late, at Press will learn more about life have forgotten the favour- picture of what is happening
They must look at the conferences where they re- and conditions in the Colo- able comment about the in this Colony which is 8,000 ny simply by roaming "open house" arranged for miles away from their home Police department and satisfy viewed their activities and
themselves on the corruption told reporters their reactions alike. about on their own. Gov- Mr Anthony Royle on his electorate.
issue and talk to Labour de- to what they had seen and ernment obviously sees the last visit here when he
about the been told.
They looked at crowded ide The program itself is far partment heads visits in an entirely differ- gave a full day to meeting from static, as Mr Anthony need for labour reform.
A number of times they living conditions and factories ope Apart from ent light, and is anxious individuals and group re- Royle's visit proved. In his
familiarising revealed Government plans which were little better than tha
future reforms some- themselves with the problems for
and pig sties and their questions to that any MP who comes, presentatives who wanted own way he proved
our industries legislation which until that and criticisms came thick and we sta gets a good dose of official to talk to him about a wide thing of a headache to tour confronting
organisers.
and tourism there is the all- moment had been kept secret fast. facts, figures and opinions. variety of subjects. While might It appears to believe that nothing practical
He was forever chopping important question of inter- by Government heads.
None of them admitted to It is just so much nonsense national politics to be looked controlled have been achieved through Overstaying at one point so and changing his itinerary.
this only
at.
to say that the visiting MPs being shocked
or what they had expected to program of visits
were kept under wraps and those discussions, at least long that he could not keep
briefings leavened some some who might otherwise his appointment at the next Early
escorted "by albatross-like see. They had been told that meetings,
Government officials as the living conditions in squatter what with social gather- have been ignored had the and adding extra
shanty towns as One of their early briefings China Travel Service would areas ings to meet selected opportunity to communicate the itinerary like the visit to will be from the assistant escort an Albanian visitor on they called them guests, is the best way of their grievances.
the Red journalists at Stan- The
political adviser. Perhaps a package tour of Peking." appalling. ley Prison, getting Hongkong's point voices of dissent have a
like some of our earlier True, they are accompanied In the end he was rushed
In the pitifully small rooms of view across. (There is, right to be heard, and it off his feet. But he managed visitors Mr Walden and Mr by a Government man when in Tai Hang Tung estate,
to the of course, another and should be part of every to fit in all or almost all of Jones might be somewhat they take
streets, dwellers pressed cups of tea much bigger
shocked by body of "business" visit here by the things he wanted to.
the Hongkong squatter areas, resettlement on the MPs and readily people who simply don't MPs to take time off from But his one complaint was Government's tolerance of the estates and factories.
But the Government man
answered translated questions. me
st care very much either official
to that the time was not long politically extreme Left and engagements
Right.
is often a department man Overstayed way). But between the listen to at least some from enough.
is One of the first questions who there to answer Mr Royle had an advan- two extremes it must be outside the approved tage over the three other an earlier MP visitor asked at questions and, occasionally,
to find some circles who desire slightly Tory MPs who preceded him. his political briefing was: see they don't get lost rather their visit but it is doubtful He had already paid sev "Why are there SO many than to steer them away from whether they, or Mr Jones
a
items
to
was
ser
sti
ne
sh
for
bri
were
tic
the
th
by
As usual, they overstayed m
re th
and Mr Walden, could see
of anymore
squatter and resettlement estate life if the re time were extended from a tour to several days. rushed morning or afternoon ne
It is also doubtful whether
more
fo fr
CC
sh
possible middle course to allow the more time than brief
a visitors a chance to get a pause in the course of a eral visits to Hongkong.
Communist shops in Hong- anything unpleasant. He
kong?" knew what he wanted to see
From a distance of They are not stopped from busy day's schedule. more balanced opinion.
and was able to make com- 8,000 miles the business of talking to anyone they wish parisons and ask Government co-existing with Communism to speak to or from seeing officials pertinent questions. obviously takes on a different anything they want to see.
I have heard MPs ask ques- The program for Mr colour. Daniel Jones, Member for As a journalist I covered tions of factory workers, Burnley, Lancaster and Mr the last two MP visits and squatters, estate dwellers and Brian Walden, Member for frankly I was impressed by seen them talk to women and days spent looking at living th Birmingham, All Saints, is the amount of work these children through interpreters. conditions would be not dissimilar to the pro- men got through.
Chinese reporters with me valuable to their understand- gr gram for Mr Atkins, Mr From a reporter's point of at the time vouched for the ing of Hongkong than days G Campbell and Mr Bryan. view the visits contained authenticity of the answers spent examining its adminis-
than their share of relayed by the interpreters. tration and The three Tory MPs came more
present and
p here in January. But the frustrations. So many de- On a bitterly cold and wet
future problems.
be latest itinerary has already partments wanted their afternoon last January, when Because of the political | fu
nature of their visits it is doubtful that Government | th officials will not be plugging co for all of the political capital, po both for future financial ad manoeuvres and trade pro- of tection, they can get.
Co
W
One MP once confided in lo me: "Our visits do serve one fil very useful purpose
welb
keep the local Bureaucrats on d their toes."
A good point.