GRS 180
CYPHER CAT/A
FM HONG KONG 012830Z
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY, No, 50
- 2 MAY 1975
NXK 3/548/4
TO ROUTINE F C O TELEGRAM NUMBER 420 OF MAY.
OUR TELEGRAM NO 403: URBCO VISIT.
ON ARRIVAL AT AIRPORT ON 28 APRIL, DELEGATION GAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE, WHICH WAS WIDELY COVERED BY ALL MEDIA INCLUDING
COMMUNIST TA KUNG APO. MRS ELLIOTT WAS QUOTED IN SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST AS SAYING THAT THE TALKS WITH LORD GORONWY ROBERTS
WERE ''A DEAD LOSS' AND THE STAR HIGHLIGHTED HER REMARKS WITH
THE HEADLINE ''U.K. NOT INTERESTED IN HONG KONG REFORDIS””. DIFFERENCES OF OPINION AMONG THE DELEGATION AGAIN RECEIVED
EMPHASIS IN SEVERAL REPORTS.
27
2. MOVEMENT FOR REPRESENTATION IN GOVERNMENT, HOWEVER, PUT OUT A STATEMENT CARRIED BY STANDARD ON 30 APRIL THAT CONTRARY TO THE IMPRESSION GIVEN BY EARLIER REPORTS, LORD GORONWY ROBERTS HAD STOOD BY THE REMARKS WHICH HE MADE AT HIS PRESS CONFERENCE IN HONG KONG ON 16 JANUARY ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ELECTED LEGCO
AND HAD TOLD MRS ELLIOTT THAT BRITAIN WOULD BE PREPARED TO CONSIDER
REFORMS IF THERE WAS SHOWN TO BE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THEM.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HKIOD (4)
NEWS DEPT
FS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS
FED
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED