43 MON
From The Minister of State
The Rt Hon The Lord Goronwy-Roberts
her Mellon Profe. 20 Mr Bayoum $11.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
9 February 1976
2/2
My dear Tam,
D
Thank you for your letter of 27 January about Joe England's recent Fabian Society pamphlet "Hong Kong: Britain's responsibility".
We consider the pamphlet to be a useful contribution to thinking on Hong Kong and are carefully studying it. I think that perhaps Mr England concentrates too much on the past without regard to the great difficulties posed by the seven fold increase in Hong Kong's population since the War; I believe he also underestimates the very considerable difficulties of constitutional progress in Hong Kong on the lines normally followed in other dependent territories. At the same time, he recognises the present Governor's commitment to social reform and he makes a number of valid points to which we are giving much thought. There is certainly no complacency here or in Hong Kong.
This said, I do not think that the best way forward is likely to be to establish a Commission of Inquiry. The Governor keeps us fully informed about conditions in Hong Kong and there is a steady flow of visitors, particularly
Tam Dalyell Esq MP
House of Commons
Londo
EA
/ MPs as
1