HKK 13/17
Page
SECRET AND PERSONAL
Mr. Gap.5.69.
No.
1.. Stewart Av915
To see hugs
8 May 1969.
Rash
Dear David,
PA
M2wv 9/5
I am replying to your personal letter of 3 arch
on Arthur Galsworthy's behalf. He would have replied himself
and at a much earlier date had he not been called away twice to Anguilla (the "cockpit of the Caribbean") unfortunately,
upon his return, he has been away from the Office with a troublesome attack of conjunctivitis.
2.
Te read your Budget Speech (and John Cowperthwaite's)
with considerable interest. I am not surprised that there was
general satisfaction to learn that no increase in taxation was
necessary: this is a sort of satisfaction to which we are
strangers in this country! We were interested in what you had
to say about the intention to introduce a Tublic Assistance system. I realise that it may be some time before you are ready with more details of what you intend and also that you are still considering whether you will call on us for expert assistance. But if you do decide to approach us for the services of a suitable expert in this field, I hope that you will be able to give plenty of warning. While I imagine that there are a good many men who can be considered experts, it may not be easy to find one to suit your exact purposes. We should
all want to be certain that we had picked the right man.
3.
I can well understand that the announcement of your
intention to reduce primary school fees aroused general interest, It will be interesting to know, in due course, whether these reductions have any effect on enrolment in communist schools; and whether the sponsors of the latter follow suit. I imagine they will certainly do so. You say you have not got very far with the ideas you sketched out for the future of primary school fees and we should be very glad if you would keep us posted on
how
HIS EXCELLENCY SIR DAVID TRENCH, GCMG, MC,
HONG KONG.
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