COVERING CONFIDENTIAL
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NICK! 8
ادا
لائی
8.
(c)
(a)
The "statistics" are very selective. For example, on page 7 there is a reference to the number of hospital beds in the New Territories. But as the authors must have been aware, the hospitals, as in
the UK, are close at hand in the urban areas. The suggestion in the notes (page 39) that the name of Tsoi was picked out of a hat for execution is
absurd and untrue.
However, picking holes in the booklet, however easy, is not profitable. What matters is what the Hong Kong Government is doing to tackle the admittedly substantial problems of development. On the labour front there has been good recent progress (see Overseas Labour Consultative Committee brief). The Governor's speech in LegCo on 16 October charts progress and the way ahead.
9.
10.
Points worth making:-
(a)
(b)
(c)
Wages in Hong Kong are the second highest in the Far East outside Japan. The average industrial wage is £2 per day. In India there are 200 million people earning less than that per month.
The Government will be building new houses for 1.8 million people (almost half the population) in the next ten years.
Junior
There is already universal primary education. Secondary education for all will be provided by 1979. It is free for those who cannot pay the subsidised
fees.
Lord Goronwy-Roberts might end by saying that he has not yet been able to visit Hong Kong. However, he hopes to be able to do so soon and would like to meet the group again after his
return.
22 November 1974
Dest
A C Stuart
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.
сс
OLA
Mr Male
Sir D Watson Mr McNally