CONFIDENTIAL
RECORD OF A MEETING BETWEEN THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND
COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS AND THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG HELD IN THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ON THURSDAY, 9 DECEMBER 1976
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Present:
Lord Goronwy-Roberts
Mr Cortazzi
Mr Milton
Mr David
Mr Male
Mr Stewart
Mr Galsworthy Mr Jones
Mr Hurst
Mr Smith
Sir Murray MacLehose Mr Haddon-Cave
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1. Lord Goronwy-Roberts welcomed the Governor of Hong Kong and the Financial Secretary and with reference to Item 1 (Progress made in implementing measures for labour and social reform since the Governor's last visit) said that the meeting would not need to discuss in detail developments since the Governor's visit in July. Both he and the Secretary of State had appreciated the way in which the Governor had responded to their views. He recalled that adjustments had been amicably arranged to the terms of the Governor's October "Speech from the Throne". The Governor had let him know that his speech had been received well. Lord Goronwy-Roberts noted that Hong Kong had taken up London's offer to supply an expert in social welfare matters and the FCO were supporting the Hong Kong Government's approach to the Depart- ment of Health and Social Security. Both he and the Secretary of State attached great weight to the proposal to second a Diplomatic Service officer to take Mr Ford's place as Deputy Secretary responsible for information work. It would be in everybody's interests if an appoint- ment could be made. He was convinced that the correct approach to the project was the way that the Governor had been following; choosing the right person as the first step. On labour matters, he thought the pro- gress made so far was satisfactory and had written to the Governor to say 20. He was, however, concerned at some of the figures that he had seen submitted for use in a reply to Questions in the House of Commons that day, and he would want to hear the Governor's views, particularly on the fluctuation in the enrolments of secondary school pupils in the 10-14 year-old age group. He was not challenging Hong Kong's figures, merely asking for help in replying to such supplementary questions as might later be tabled.
2. He recalled that the Secretary of State had pressed both himself and the Governor of Hong Kong on the question of appointments to the Hong Kong Legislative Council, and the arrangements now made appeared initially satisfactory. He noted the Governor's impression that the
He himself saw new appointees were becoming both helpful and useful.
no pressure at present for the appointment of Mrs Elliott to LegCo. Sir M MacLehose said that he was sure that Lord Gorony-Roberts would not strongly support any recommendation for Mrs Elliott's appointment. Lord Goronwy-Roberts said that it was very difficult for him to comment in the UK on specific suggestions made here with regard to possible appointees to LegCo: it was only possible to assess general trends of thought. He hoped it would help the Governor if he were to comment on the eligibility of particular persons. He was concerned that his own and the Governor's views should coincide and that there should be no marked disagreement between London and Hong Kong.
3.
Lord Goronwy-Roberts said that in general, things had gone well since the Governor's last visit. Reactions to the Governor's speech at the opening of LegCo had been good. There seemed to be no
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