G.F. 323
0003230
CONFIDENTIAL #
機密
Thaos. 21
T
UMELCO BRIEF FOR MEETING ITH RT. HON LORD GOROMY--ROBERTS
11.45 A.M. 13.1.75
(1) DEATH SINTINCE
(i) UMELCO Members strongly urge that capital punishment should continue in Hong Kong so that, in extreme cases, the law shall take its course. This is the view of 99% of the people of Hong Kong.
(ii) It is invidious that the Governor should be prevented, on account of U.K. political considerations, from fulfilling his constitutional function under R. I XXXIV : ---
to decide either to extend or to withhold a pardon or reprieve, according to his own deliberate judgment
(2)
CONSTITUTION
(i) It is not possible to move towards an elected Government in Hong Kong. Therefore, it is essential to retain the present principle of appointment in a personal capacity of Members of sufficient quality, standing and experience to speak for the whole of Hong Kong and not for sectional interests.
(ii) It follows that appointees to Legislative Council should, as far as possible, be composed of people capable of presenting different view points.
(iii) It is common ground between UMELCO and the Governor that the membership of Legislative Council should be increased and broadened, provided that the right sort of person can be found. Some moves have already been made in this direction, but progress is admittedly not easy. It may be possible in future to find the right type of people with different backgrounds from mutual aid committees and many other Government committees.
(3) DEFENCE CONTRIBUTION
(i) Any large scale increase in the defence contribution could only be at the expense of social services in Hong Kong, and hence would be entirely. unacceptable.
(ii) Hong Kong is committed to vastly increased expenditure in the years ahead on housing, medical facilities, education and social welfare. Increases in taxation will be needed to meet these targets but could not be justified in order to pay more for defence.
PA
B
24/1
CONFIDENTIAL # /(iii).......