CODE 19.77
Mr Janvrin
CONFIDENTIAL COVERING SECRET
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HONG KONG:
REPRESENTATIONS BY THE NEC
Please see the Governor's reply of 23 October to Pin Dự Watson's letter of 8 August.
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2. Cince Sir Duncan Watson wrote his letter as Secretary of State's meeting with the NEC and the Secreting State also saw it in draft, I think the Governor's reply ch be submitted to Ministers. As for the timing of a submission, think that the appropriate moment may be before the Governor c into the Office for consultations in early December. The Gov Pr letter could form part of the briefing for the consultationss.
3. It is not perhaps too soon, however, to consider what the Governor says in his letter. As he says in his final purugp he agrees more or less with all the proposals and suggestions made in Sir Duncan Watson's letter. The exception is the idea that the Secretary of State might discuss with the Chin his visit to Peking next Spring the desirability of more Communist trade union interest in the processes of govern Hong Kong. The Governor has argued strongly and, I thin convincingly that this should not be done. The only oble on which the Governor takes issue is that of the working Labour Advisory Board. I think that what he says is mol For the rest, it looks as though we and the Governor ape and working along the same lines.
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4. One point which we should bear in mind is the pre es timing for the appointment of new members to the Legis ka Council. In paragraph 2 of his letter the Governor menli as something for "next year". When he consulted us he should say in his annual address to the Legislative (22) first spoke of this as a step which he would hope to make June (Hong Kong telno 992). He subsequently spoke of in happening in February/March (Hong Kong telno 1003). differences in possible timing are not great and it is el difficult to be precise in the circumstances, I imagin Ministers see the Governor in December they will wish bọ him to work for as early a date as possible next year Per 15 appointment of new members to the Legislative Council.
5. Flease bring up these papers on Mr O'Keeffe's retum we can discuss with him.
29 October 1975
Cc:
Sir Duncan Watson
DF Milton
Hong Kong and Indian Ocea Department
CONFIDENTIAL COVERING SECRET