280/6 HKK 280/6
RECEIVER IN REGISTRY #3. 51 Foreign and Commonwealth Office
From The Minister infor
- 7 AUG 1978
DESK OF OTA
INDEX
a
RES CRY
London SW1A 2AH
CLE
28 July 1978
THE RT HON THE LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS
or Thou for
やり
68
Ken Tony
Ted Rowlands has passed to me, as Minister responsible for Hong Kong affairs, your letter of 11 July about the dispute concerning the closure of the Golden Jubilee Secondary School in Hong Kong. The school was closed by the acting Director of Education, following a series of demonstrations there which had led him to the conclusion that it was impossible for the school to continue to function. The dispute which led to the school's closure is extremely complex and many of the facts remain in dispute. The acting Director of Education's decision was endorsed by the Hong Kong Executive Council, who however decided to set up a Committee of Inquiry to look into the dispute.
The full facts will not be known until the Committee produce their final report. In the meantime however they have produced an interim report which avoids apportioning blame but concentrates instead on seeking a compromise solution to the dispute which will enable the education of the children involved to continue normally when the new school year opens in September. The Hong Kong Government have announced their acceptance of the compromise proposals, and have already taken certain practical steps to facilitate their implementation. I understand that the other parties involved in the dispute are also likely to accept the proposals.
I am returning the correspondence that was enclosed
with your letter.
The Rt Hon Tony Benn MP
House of Commons
LONDON SW1A OAA