GPS 800
RESTRICTED
RES
RESTRICHED
FM HONG KONG 203926Z FEB 81
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 175 OF 20 FEBRUARY
INFO HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON, PEKING
2)
3
НКК снак
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 24 FER1981
TORDE
INDEX
No
REGISTRY Action Taken
COPY
MSNITY Awar можу
YOUR TELNOS 161 AND 162: HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATE 24 FEBRUARY.
1. COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS ON SPEECH AND SUPPLEMENTARIES IN YOUR
TELNO 162 ARE SET OUT BELOW.
2. IF THERE IS TO BE MENTION OF NATIONALITY BILL AS IN YOUR 1(114) WE THINK IT VITAL THAT IT BE ACCOMPANIED BY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF
STRENGTH OF HONG KONG FEELING ON SUBJECT, AS ALREADY EXPRESSED BY ADMINISTRATION AND UNOFFICIALS, AND BY FIRM REASSURANCE THAT BILL
DOES NOT WEAKEN BRITISH COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG IN ANY WAY. 3. YOUR (IV) INTERNAL AFFAIRS. IT MAY BE YOUR INTENTION TO EXPAND
THIS TO INDICATE PROGRESS IN SOCIAL SERVICES: FOLLOWING POINTS
ARE WORTH MAKING:
(A) HOUSING- NET STOCK INCREASED BY AVERAGE 34,000 P.A. SINCE 1975/76, ESTIMATED AVERAGE NET INCREASE OVER EACH OF NEXT FIVE YEARS 69,000 P.A., INCLUDING 35,000 P.A. IN PUBLIC SECTOR.
(B) EDUCATION- COMPULSORY FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION 1971: FREE PLACES IN SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR ALL 1978: SCHOOL LEAVING AGE AND MINIMUM
EMPLOYMENT AGE RAISED TO 15 IN 1980.
(C) MEDICAL- DISEASES ENDEMIC IN REGION HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED OR ARE UNDER EFFECTIVE CONTROL AND HEALTH INDICES COMPARE FAVOURABLY WITH
BEST IN WESTERN INDUSTRIALISED COUNTRIES. LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH
NOW 77 FOR A WOMAN AND 70 FOR A MAN.
UNDER SAME HEADING (IV) YOU COULD ALSO REFER TO
(D) EMPLOYMENT REAL WAGES INCREASED BY 33 PER CENT OVER LAST
FIVE YEARS TO 1979. AVERAGE TAKE HOME PAY FROM UNDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT HIGHEST IN ASIA AFTER JAPAN UNEMPLOYMENT (1979)
3.4 PER CENT
•
4. THE SPEECH MIGHT MAKE REFERENCE ALSO TO VALUE OF HONG KONG TO
UK AS TRADING PARTNER. HONG KONG IS BRITAIN'S SECOND LARGEST
MARKET IN ASIA BUYING TWO THIRDS AS MUCH AS JAPAN.
5. ON SUPPLEMENTARIES IN YOUR PARA2 WE WOULD SUGGEST:
YOUR (B) LAND LEASES - TO WORK IN DENG XIA PING'S ASSURANCE TO
INVESTORS TO ''PUT YOUR HEARTS AT EASE''
YOUR (E) VIETNAMESE REFUGEES TO TAKE THE LINE THAT THE UK
OFFTAKE WAS SLOWER THAN WE MIGHT HAVE WISHED.
YOUR (F) MFA- WE WOULD PREFER THE ANSWER TO ANY SUPPLEMENTARIES
ON THE MFA TO BE LIMITED TO PREMATURE TO COMMENT'. ANY
ELABORATION WILL TEND TO BE INTERPRETED HERE AS AN INDICATION THAT
HMG HAS ALREADY MADE UP ITS MIND THAT HONG KONG'S ACCESS RIGHTS
ARE TO BE FURTHER REDUCED UNDER THE NEW AGREEMENT.
YOUR (G) AIR SERVICES- WE WOULD PREFER THERE TO BE NO MENTION OF
'POSITION ON ATLA REGULATIONS. FOR REASONS KNOWN TO DOT,
RESTRICTED
/SIGNIFICANT