SECRET
NEX,
RLF.
His Excellency
(36)
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Sir Murray MacLehose KOMG KOVO MBE
TRONG TRONG
ساتا
Dear Thunay
London S.W.1
8 August 1975
Origincia: WEK 5/28 HRK } Ther Copy for: Wick 116
Inform.
2_only/Action on
Para(s) 3
IIONG KONG: REPRESENTATIONS BY THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE LABOUR PARTY
The Secretary of State held a departmental meeting on 21 July to consider the representations about Hong Kong made to him by the International Committee of the MEC on 23 April. Among those present were Lord Goronvy-Roberts, Mir Rowlands, Tom McNally, Laurence O'Keeffe, Bili Bentley and myself.
2. You will have seen from your copy of the record of the meeting on 23 April that the NEC raisod four questions:
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3.
(a)
elections to the Legislative Council; progress towards the implementation of ILO Conventions in Hong Kong;
the situation of the trade unions and labour relations generally;
and
the possibility of simplifying the Hong Fort Trade Union Ordinance and subsidiary legislation.
The Secretary of Stato accepted that the introduebion of the MACs and the limited electoral system introduced for the Urban Council represented a reasonable approach bo constitutional dovelopment, bearing in mind the attitudo od China and the doop divisions of political allegiance erilin within the Colony. Ho nino accented Lord Goronvy-Robinso Point that, while come further progress along those ligg be possible (c.g. by granting further limited powers to the Urban Council), the difficulties of moving to an electoral nystem for the Legislative and Executive Councilo were formidable, perhaps even decisive. Despite this.Ahe remion unconvinced that progress towards the widening of the cocina. basis of an appointed Jeg Co should necessarily be as ou
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