HONG KONG SEPT
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'Help us regain our trading status'
URBAN councillors yesterday appealed to three visiting Members of Parliament to urge Britain to help Hongkong regain its rightful trading position.
The plea went out to Mr R.W. Elliott and Mr Walter Clegg, both conservatives, and Mr Robert Parry, a Labour MP.
Among many problems outlined a t the one-and-a-half hour meeting, the MPs were told of the Colony's stock market depression, the housing shortage and its snail-pace development, the alarming rise in the cost of living, corruption and Godber, need for price controls, and the unemployment situation.
But the MPs offered little comment, but took down notes for their report.
WARNING
The Councillors were critical of Britain's attitude to Hongkong. This issue was raised, they said, in view of Britain's spurious assurance that Hongkong's trade interest will be looked after by the Crown when it enters the EEC in January next year.
The General Preference Scheme is not working in favour of Hongkong, the councillors said.
The MPs were urged that stronger British representation was needed for Hongkong in the world's trade councils, particularly in the EEC.
"Our foreign trade is our lifeline. Setbacks could lead to
URBAN COUNCILLORS APPEAL
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very serious happenings here,” one councillor warned.
Another councillor called for more flexibility in running down Hongkong's sterling reserves. He said that instead of 11 per cent, Hongkong should be allowed to shift up to 40 or 50 per cent of its reserves from sterling into other currencies. if the need arose.
On local issues, councillors pointed out that Hongkong was facing a very serious problem of inflation on one scale and a stock market depression on the other.
They hoped that Britain. could influence decisions and help improve some of the policies here.
Councillors referred to a lack of sound company ordinance which, they said, was largely responsible for the recent stock market debacle.
One councillor said some $4,000 million had been siphoned out of the Colony by foreign investors. And because of this, factories were not getting loans for expansion some even closing down resulting in unemployment.
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The councillors also referred
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to a lack of a firm land policy and & noed for B moro aggressive housing programme, point out that the much publicised 10-year public housing programme was not good enough, and that housing demand would continue to. outstrip supply.
CONTROLS
They said the dramatic rise in the cost of living had over-ridden wage increases, and told the MPs of the possible need to control prices or subsidise rice.
The councillors urged the MPs to meet Hongkong's youth leaders. They said more attention should be paid to the young people of Hongkong and that there was a neod for a better understanding between the Government, in particular the police, and the Colony's youth.
The MPs then agreed to a meeting with the Federation of Hongkong Students.
On corruption and the Godber issue, councillors once again argued that if Britain could impose its will on Hongkong concerning death sentences, then Hongkong should be able to do the same with the extradition of Godber. The visitors offered little combient, excerty to say that the talk was informative, and useful," and the points raised would be discussed with other parliamentarians on their return to Britain.
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Twelve Urban Councillors attended the meeting including the chairman, Mr A. de O. Sales and the vice-chairman, Mr Hilton Cheong-leon.