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7
used it again in the campaign to fight crime. But we widened its scope to encourage people to combine in the apartment blocks not only for security, but for cleanliness, administration and other purposes. The basic units of combination (usually one to a block) were called Mutual Aid Committees (a good old Chinese term) of which we now have about 1,300 in existence, controlled by about 80 area and 15 district committees. The impulse has been fear of crime and desire for more orderly and clean living conditions, but the result is something in the nature of a mass organisation under Government supervision, touching already several hundreds of thousands of people, and growing fast. It has some of the character- istics of the "Community Centre" system evolved so successfully in Singapore, though there somewhat perverted for PAP ends. It is still a tender and very new growth and too much should not be expected of it at present. But it has exciting possibilities and I will endeavour to foster it in the coming year.
33. Taken together these developments represent a significant change in the attitude of Government, not as it has actually been, but as it has appeared to the governed, and a Conservative-minded Legislative Councillor referred to them as "Winds of Change". They have not taken us very far, though I think the direction is right.
Tailpiece
34. Nevertheless I do wonder whether such methods, which are all the present constitution of the Colony affords scope for, will be sufficient in the long term to hold the interest and loyalty of the population, or induce able men to serve even when coupled with a rising standard of living and Chinese com- plaisance. I have particularly in mind the younger generation educated in British liberalism. Real as the well-known objections are even to limited constitutional advance in Hong Kong, I am not as convinced as I once was that they are as insuperable as they used to be. Moreover, it is arguable that as time passes the danger of leaving things alone will increase to a point at which it is greater than that of making a move. It may well be that our conclusion will still be that no substantial progress is feasible, but I think that this subject merits careful and confidential re-examination amongst ourselves, and I will address the Depart- ment in due course. I trust that this whiff of heresy will not cause consternation.
35. I am sending copies of this despatch to Her Majesty's Ambassadors at Washington, Tokyo, Peking and Bangkok, and to Her Majesty's High Com- missioners in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
I have, etc.,
January
9
13-16
25-28
31
MURRAY MACLEHOSE.
Enclosure
Calendar of events in 1973 -
Ex. Co. decides in principle on introduction of new scheme of financial aid for the
severely disabled and elderly infirm.
Visit of Chief of Defence Staff.
Visit of Lord Carrington, Secretary of State for Defence.
Enactment of Copyright and Television (Amendment) Ordinances.
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