NOTE FOR SECRETARY OF STATE
FOR MEETING WITH MR. ANTHONY ROYLE, MP
400
AT THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AT BY p.m. on MARCH
18
The Secretary of State is seeing Mr. Anthony Royle on March.
It is understood that the meeting is expected to be brief and for the purpose of presenting to the Secretary of State a petition from the Heung Yee Kuk of Hong Kong.
2. The Heung Yee Kuk (the Rural Consultative Council of the New Territories, Hong Kong) is a statutory elected body whose advisory
functions include the promotion of co-operation and understanding among the people of the New Territories; and between the Hong Kong Government and the people of the New Territories. It also advises the Government on social and economic developments in the area.
3. We have been informed by the Governor that the petition contains
recommendations relating to:
(a) New Territories Land Policy;
(b) promotion of tourism in the New Territories;
improvements to New Territories roads;
(c)
(a)
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(e)
assistance to farmers over training, employment and sale of produce;
representation of the Heung Yee Kuk on the Legislative and Executive Councils;
(f) changes in the administrative structure of the
New Territories and in the powers of the Heung Yee Kuk.
4. A delegation from the Heung Yee Kuk paid a goodwill visit to this country last year: in the course of that visit (which lasted approximately six weeks) the delegation met the Commonwealth Secretary
and Lord Shepherd and presented memoranda to them. The Governor has informed us that the contents of the present petition (which we have not yet seen) are to some extent related to the matters mentioned in
those memoranda, which are still under examination in Hong Kong.
5. The petition has been forwarded, as required by Colonial Regulations, through the Governor who has stated that he will be sending us, as soon as possible, his detailed recommendations on
the matters raised therein.
/ 6.
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