HONG KONG STANDARD Friday 2 November 1973
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British MPs
adopt selfish view of HK'
MOST Britons hold out-of-date views of Hongkong and tend to disregard the Colony's problems.
URBAN COUNCILLORS GET
COOL RECEPTION
Allir koyle
cc Sir D Watson
Mr Youde
Mr Stuart
P.M. Kelly
P. M. Felly (Miss) Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Tepartment
• IN
12 MO119/3
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And although a
few British Members of Parliament express concern over some Hongkong issues, their view is only to protect their own commercial interest in the Colony.
This was the view of Urban Councillor Dr Denny Huang who had just completed a 10-day familiarisation visit to
London with three of his fellow Urban Councillors, on the invitation of British Government.
"I think they could do very little to help in solving our problems here," he told the Standard when he arrived at 'Kaitak yesterday.
Looking tired but in high spirits after his 16-hour air journey, the outspoken elected councillor however admitted the trip was "beneficial" on the official side.
"We visited many offices including the Greater London Council and learned many methods in handling urban
affairs," he said.
In commenting on the unofficial exchange of views with MPs over "hot issues” in Hongkong, Dr Huang was less optimistic. He said the MPs could help very little in solving the problems.
According to the councillor, subjects brought up for private discussions with British officials including Mr Anthony Royle, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, and Sir Duncan Watson, Deputy Under-Secretary of State, were:
Corruption in Hongkong with special emphasis on the Godber Case and the possibility of his being extradited back to
Hongkong for trial:
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The stock "scandal";
market
Enlargement of scope of the Urban Council;
Death penalty;
Elected representatives in Legislative Council, and;
Hongkong's reserve value protection and how they should be used in improving Hongkong's social welfare.
was
"The film Squeeze shown on television on the second day after we arrived in London, but we were too busy with engagements to see it," Dr Huang said,
But the reaction from the general public there seemed to be much cooler than expected, he said,
DAMAGING
"I could not find much publicity on the film in the press the next day although a few reporters telephoned me the same night."
On the Godber Case, Dr Huang said some MPs regarded the issue as dainaging to the inage of police force trained by Britain and would make Britain "lose face."
"But the MPs were still insistent that a witness should be required to lay a charge against Godber before anything could be done. It's the same old tune," he said,
Firmer opinions were expressed by the MPs on the issue of elected representatives for the Legislative Council, which was originally suggested by Dr Huang himself,
"Several MPs are in favour of the suggestion and pledged their support," he said,
On capital punishment, Dr Huang said that he had exchanged personal views with a number of British officials but the contents of talks are being treated as confidential,
"Some of the MPs expressed concern over some issues in Hongkong with a selfish view. Most of those had some sort of commercial interest in the Colony," he said.
Commenting on Hongkong's reserves in Britain, Dr Huang said the question was not only how to protect our reserve value but also whether Hongkong should continue to place reserves in London or even should withdraw part of it for the improvement of social wellare here.
"British people are enjoying better social welfare than the Colony, Why shouldn't we take back some of the reserves t improve our own?”
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