CONFIDENTIAL
Record of courtesy call on HE the Governor by the No.1 Director of the Hong Kong branch of the NCNA on 7 September 1978 at 10 a.m.
Present :
HE the Governor
Mr I C Orr (Acting Political Adviser)
Mr Wang K'uang (No.1 Director) Mr Li Chu-sheng (No.2 Director)
Mr Tan Kan
Mr Li Jo-ho (Interpreter)
After initial courtesies, Mr Wang said that he was not familiar with Hong Kong. Although he had been in Hong Kong several decades ago, his last visit was in 1937. The Governor said that he had first visited Hong Kong in 1940 on his way to Kulangyu near Amoy. Mr Li commented that the area was now more beautiful than before.
It was still quiet with no cycling permitted. The Governor mentioned that he had had the privilege of attending a dinner with Premier Chou En-lai in the Fukien Room in the Great Hall of the People. A screen there depicted part of Kulangyu.
He wished that houses could be built in Hong Kong as quickly as the Great Hall of the People had been constructed. Mr Li said that everyone hoped for rapid building developments in Hong Kong. When the Performing Arts Company of China had recently visited Hong Kong it had been a pity that their performances could not be held in a larger auditorium. The Governor said that one was being built but would not be ready until 1982.
2.
Mr Wang said that in the short time he had been in Hong Kong he had discovered that the Governor took a very close interest in housing. The Governor commented that Mr Wang would have seen that this was one of Hong Kong's biggest problems. It stemmed from having very many people and very steep land. From 1979 people would be re-housed at a rate of between 250 and 300 thousand per year.
It was impossible to move people at a greater rate. this level of construction had involved work over 4 years. He hoped that the scale of the housing programme would in due course lead to a reduction in house prices.
Achieving
3.
Mr Li said he expected the Governor would announce next year a major plan for the development of Lantau. The Governor said that but for the recession plans for Lantau would have been announced sooner. A Government decision would be taken on the preliminary plans next year (Mr Li interjected that this was good news). If a positive decision were taken contracts would probably be awarded in
/contd.....
CONTIDEN MAL IDENTIAL