RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.51 21 FEB 1972
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Mr. Graham
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2
I understand the Secretary of State
has been briefed to discuss with me what he should
say about:-
a) 'the demand that Cantonese should be
made an official language;
b) an ombudsman.
Cantonese language
The excellent reports published on
this reasonable but technically and legally
complicated demand, together with the Government's
rapid acceptance of some of the recommendations
has taken the heat out of this question.
criticism as there is takes the form that
Government is being too slow.
Such
If asked about this, I suggest the
Secretary of State should say that he has discussed
with me both this issue and the admirable series of
reports on it by the Fung Ping-fan Committee.
he principle of the proposal is one with which
there is general sympathy, and there is no difference of principle between the Government and the
supporters of the proposal.
The various reports
and recommendations of the committee are being
progressively adopted and acted on.
If pressed the Secretary of State
might say that the technical and legal problems involved in some of the proposals should not be
under-rated and that obviously the Government has
a duty to make sure all these have been overcome
before acting.