HKK 13/23
{
HONG KONG
Despatch No. 464
CONFIDENTIAL
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London S.W.1
7 October, 1969
.r,
I have the honour to refer to your Despatch No.617 of 24 May in which you reviewed the principal developments that had taken place in Hong Kong in the preceding year. The picture which you draw of the continuing success of the Colony in so many fields is a heartening one upon which I should like to congratulate you and your Government. I know, however, that this success would not have been achieved, as you would be the first to admit, were it not for the support of the people of Hong Kong. You are as aware as I am of the vital necessity of ensuring that by enlightened social policies we should make it as difficult as possible for those who seek to undermine the authority and objectives of your Government.
2.
As you say, the Communists may have changed their methods, but their ultimate objective of undermining the authority of the Government remains unaltered. There is a need for constant vigilance. Communist propaganda will continue to be directed at deficiencies in the social services, both real and alleged, and at other substantial problems which, as you have rightly observed, need to be remedied. I feel sure, however, that the continued steady social and economic progress which you report will go a long way towards drawing the teeth of Communist criticism.
I am particularly pleased to see the progress which has been made in the educational field and to note that by 1971 there will be primary school places for all in Government or Government-aided schools. This is a major achievement, and the same objective must now, I
suggest, be pursued at secondary and technical levels of education. Such educational objectives must, I realise, be related to the all-important consideration, in Hong Kong as elsewhere, of providing work for the young people when they leave school. Hong Kong, with its growing and predominantly youthful population, faces a particularly challenging problem here - one to which I know you attach the greatest importance.
3. I know also that you have under study various means by which the people of Hong Kong may participate to a greater extent in the machinery of government without, of course, giving the Chinese Government any excuse to claim that the status of Hong Kong is being altered. I look forward to seeing in due course the proposals you are now formulating in the light of the. studies which have, I know, been undertaken. In this connection I am also greatly encouraged by the immediate success of the City District Officer Scheme launched last year.
This should be of much assistance to
/ your Government
HIS EXCELLENCY
ČMG., MC.
SIR DAVID TRENCH, GCMG., MC.
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