Pan Gog
IMMEDIATE
E CLAIR
FM F.C.0. 191825Z
UNCLASSIFIED
12
іского
TOP COPY
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 119 OF 19 FEBRUARY 1976
FÖR GOVERNOR FROM O'KEEFFE.
MY TELO 110.
RTKINSON'S PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION MENT AS FOLLOWS:
1. MR. WATKINSON ASKED THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR 'FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS IF HOP MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT INTEND TO REVIEW
THEIR POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG.
ས་
: HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT'S POLICY IS TO ADMINISTOR HONG KONG IN
THE INTERESTS OF THOSE WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO LIVE THERE. THE WAY IN
VICH THIS POLICY CAN TEST DE IMPLEMENTED IS NATURALLY KEPT VIDER REVIEW, NY RIGHT HON. FRIEND WILL HAVE A FIRST HAND OPPORTUNITY. TO EXAMINE THE SITUATION WHEN HE VISITS HONG KONG IN EARLY MAY. PR WATKINSON: DOES MY RIGHT HOW FRIEND AGREE THAT UNDER THE COVER OF VAST MEALTH 11 HONG KONG LURK AREAS OF HUMAN DEPRIVATION IN RELATION TO THE RIGHT TO VOTE, COCIAL CONDITIONS AND CIVIL RIGHTS? IS NOT THAT A DISGRACE FOR THIS OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT? WILL MY RIGHT HON. FRIEND THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY WHEN HE VISITS HONG KONG TO DISCUSS THE VALUE OF THE 243 MILLION DEFENCE COMITIENT TO THE COLONY?
R ENNALS: CERTAINLY MY RIGHT HON FIREND WILL BE LOOKING AT CONDITIONS WIDELY, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAVE HAD FORMIDABLE. PROBLEMS DEALING WITH THE SOCIAL CONDITIONS !! THE TERRITORY PARTICULARLY ABSORBING LARGE NUMBERS OF IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA. THE POPULATION OF HONG KONG HAS INCREASED SEVENFOLD, IT IS A MAJOR TASK, DUT PROGRESS IS PEING MARE, PARTICULARLY IN THE PLANNING OF A LONG-TERI PROGRAMME FOR SOCIAL MELFARE,
SIR ANTHO Y ROYLE: DOES THE RIGHT HOT, GENTLEMAN AGREE THAT HONG KONG MUST BE LOOKED AT IN THE ATHAN CONTEXT? THE COLONY HAS MADE CREAT PROGRESS OVER THE PAST TWO OR THREE YEARS 11 A PERIOD WHEN THE WORLD HAS FACED CRAVE CCONCHIC CRISES. WILL HE GIVE THE HOUSE AN ASSURANCE HAT HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT WILL SUPPORT THE HONG
KONG GOVERMENT IN THEIR EFFORTS?
MR. EMMALS: YES 1 CERTAINLY GIVE THAT ASSURANCE. THE PEOPLE OF
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/HONG KONG EXPECT