HKK 360/2
13 F
20
Mr Murray
F
Dsl
сь
PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts
INDEX
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1.
1 Jinz 05
A
HONG KONG: HOUSE OF LORDS PQ
I attach a draft reply, a background note and notes for supplementaries to the starred Question tabled by Lord Brockway for oral reply on 12 February.
2.
Lord Brockway (who takes a close interest in social problems in Hong Kong) has almost certainly been prompted to table this Question by a letter sent to a number of MPs and others in this country by the Hong Kong pressure group, the Society for Community Organisation. This organisation, which is backed by the Protestant and Roman Catholic Churches in Hong Kong, has been supporting the Hong Kong boat dwellers in their campaign to be rehoused in public housing.
3.
The incident to which the Question refers is still sub judice in Hong Kong. The trial of the people involved is due to take place on 12 February. We have asked the Hong Kong Government to inform us of the outcome immediately but we shall not know what has happened until the morning of the day on which Lord Goronwy-Roberts will give his reply. I shall ensure that the Minister's Private Secretary is informed if any amendment to the reply is called for, and I shall in any case submit an additional supplementary covering the outcome of the trial.
4.
The reply is based on information supplied by the Hong Kong
Government.
7 February 1979
Rungkun
R JT McLaren
Hong Kong and General Department