CONFIDENTIAL
particularly because of the different historical experience of Hong Kong where there has been little unemployment. Hong Kong's main priorities are to improve facilities in, for example, the educational and medical fields. Lord Goronwy-Roberts said that the Secretary of State was likely to link the lack of unemployment benefit to the Colony's fiscal system, on which Mr Michael Stewart will be commenting after his recent visit to Hong Kong. However, the actual funding of public benefits is a matter of technique not ideology • He asked the Governor to provide his view on the whole range of social policy before Dr Owen's visit to Asia. Sir Murray agreed to prepare a draft? brief for the Secretary of State covering every aspect of the Colony.
14. Lord Goronwy-Roberts concluded by making two points. First, when considering special progress it is essential to compare Hong Kong with other countries in South East Asia rather than with Western Europe, as many critics of the Colony tend to do. Secondly,
he now understood the situation in the RHKPF and believed it will .
be essential to have continuity of policy and careful supervision of the Force to avoid a recurrence of corruption.
6
CONFIDENTIAL