CONFIDENTIAL
Reference.........
(c)
The Parliamentary Commissioner here has certain restrictions on his activities. We shall have to consider what restrictions will be necessary in Hong Kong.
(a) This is regarded as a public relations exercise
as much as anything.
Crash Housing Programme for Squatters
lava 5(e) Estrades &
HKK 18/15
St Para Ghaded 6 HKK 18/12
f
Dard slgia 6 extrailer & HILK 6/18
(e) Mr. Royle asked that we should look into the
possibility of stepping up the present schemes the Government has in this field. He is well aware of the remarkable efforts Hong Kong has made in the past in housing the hundreds of thousands of squatters.
Organisation of the Urban Council
11
(f) There is a long telegram in from the Governor about this which we shall have to study. It was agreed that we should avoid over-governing" Hong Kong. Mr. Royle does not want to rush this matter. I understand that there have already been a number of committees enquiring into local government in Hong Kong and it was thought this morning that it would not be a good thing to suggest the establishment of a further committee.
Arrangements for Hong Kong to handle their own trade
relations
6.
(g) Mr. Royle attaches great importance to the
proposed delegation of authority and he hopes that we shall be able to get this settled during the next week or so. I shall be dealing with this.
Mr. Royle's intention is that there should be a latter from the Secretary of State to the Governor setting out a series of items as a kind of package deal. We shall have to consider how this should be handled e.g. the Governor will have to consult his Executive Council. Mr. Royle himself is planning to visit Hong Kong in October and we shall have to bear this in mind in considering when any policy announcements should be made.
10 July, 1970
(E. 0. Laird)
Hong Kong Department
CONFIDENT IAL