CONFIDENTIAL
CALL ON LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS BY A DELEGATION FROM THE HEUNG YEE KUK
Line to Take
1. The Minister will wish to welcome the delegation to the UK and hope that their visit will be both enjoyable and worthwhile. It is helpful to the Hong Kong/UK relationship that delegations such as the Kuk's should visit Britain. It is unfortunate that the Kuk's Chairman (Mr CHAN Yak-san) is presently ill; it is to be hoped that he will make a swift recovery.
Defensive Points
6
Presentation of Petitions (see paragraph 15 of the background note).
2.
I will look carefully at any petitions and reply in writing
as soon as I can.
忌
The Kuk's Status (see paragraph 6)
3.
Both HMG and the Hong Kong Government recognize the importance of the work done by the Kuk. Hence the Minister's agreement to see the Kuk today. The Kuk also have regular meetings with the Secretary for the New Territories. Rural leaders are being invited to join new advisory and consultative committees in the New Territories so that they can continue to play a prominent part in dealing with the problems of the area.
A Member of the Kuk on LegCo? (see paragraph +7)
4. Members of LegCo are appointed on an individual basis and with the aim of ensuring that the views of all sections of the community in Hong Kong are represented. I think that it would be a mistake to make appointments on a geographical basis given that Hong Kong is a small and compact territory and that its problems should be looked at as a whole. I would hope that anyone from the New Territories who may be serving on LegCo at present or may be appointed in future will not act only as a spokesman for the interests of the New Territories alone.
CONFIDENTIAL