GPS 350
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 050810Z OCT 81
TO PRIORITY FCO
HK K
CONFIDENTIAL
TELEGRAM NUMBER 891 OF 5 OCTOBER
0132 3 °C
7.6.
170
FOR CLIFT FROM GOVERNOR
LEGCC SPEECH ON WEDNESDAY. COPY IS IN TODAY'S BAG ADDRESSED TO YOU. 2. THERE IS NO MAJOR DEPARTURE FROM ESTABLISHED POLICY EXCEPT THE EIMINATION OF LAND VALUE FROM THE PRICE OF HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME FLATS AND THAT OF SIMILAR GOVERNMENT SPONSORED SCHEMES. THIS MEANS ABOUT 12,500 FLATS A YEAR WILL BE SOLD WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
MARKET VALUE OF LAND.
3. PLEASE CONFIRM NO OBJECTION TO THE FOLLOWING TWO PASSAGES:
UNITED KINGDOM.
PARA 153. THIS YEAR ILL LUCK AND BAD TIMING PRODUCED ONE OR TWO DEVELOPMENTS IN THE UK THAT WERE DISAGREEABLE TO HONG KONG. FOR INSTANCE THE INCREASE IN UNIVERSITY FEES AND THE NATIONALITY BILL STILL BEFORE PARLIAMENT. SOME HERE AFFECTED TO SEE THEM AS PART
OF A DELIBERATE POLICY OF DISENGAGEMENT BY HMG. I CAN ONLY SAY THAT
THEY WERE PROMPTED BY PURELY UK CONSIDERATIONS TOTALLY UNCONNECTED
WITH HONG KONG, AND THE MOST SATISFACTORY ASSURANCES OF CONTINUED
UK SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG WERE GIVEN. INDEED IT IS IRONIC THAT SUCH
INTENTIONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUSPECTED OF A UK GOVERNMENT WHOSE
MEMBERS HAVE BEEN SO HELPFUL TO HONG KONG AND FREQUENTLY SPOKEN SO
WARMLY OF IT. I BELIEVE THAT IN RECENT YEARS THERE HAS BEEN A WIDER UNDERSTANDING IN PARLIAMENT OF HONG KONG, ITS PROBLEMS AND ITS ACHIEVEMENTS, AND THIS HAS BEEN DUE IN NO SMALL MEASURE TO THE WORK
OF THE ALL-PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF
SIR PAUL BRYAN.
NARCOTICS.
PARA 108. THIS YEAR'S BUMPER CROP OF OPIUM IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE
HAS PRODUCED AN ABUNDANT SUPPLY, AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF SIGNS OF CRIMINALS TRYING TO DISTRIBUTE IT HERE INCLUDING THE USE OF YOUNG PEOPLE. TO MEET THIS THREAT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS BEING STEPPED UP AND
SO FAR THIS YEAR MORE DRUGS HAVE BEEN SEIZED THAN IN THE WHOLE OF LAST YEAR. WE WILL KEEP UP OUR EFFORTS, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS, BUT THE REAL ANSWER TO QUICK SUCCESS LIES IN ENFORCEMENT IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE. THIS IS A DIFFICULT AREA STRADDLING 4
FRONTIERS AND I KNOW THE PROBLEMS AS WELL AS THE EFFORTS THAT IS
PUT INTO OTHER FIELDS, IT AMAZES ME THAT THE OPIUM PRODUCTION OF
THIS REMOTE AREA SHOULD STILL CONTINUE AND THUS POISON SEVERAL
CONTINENTS.
MACLEHOSE
MINIMAL
HK & GD
SEAD
UND
CONFIDENTIAL
See
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