Sir David Trench, K.C.M.G., F.C..
Government House,
Hong Kong.
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FED/AB.232
FURTHER ACTION
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I feel it is time to let you know that we may
need soon to consider again the possibilities for
further constitutional change in Hong Kong.
2.
You will recall John Rankin's question of the
..69.7....
26th November last year about political and economic
development in Hong Kong. In our savingram No..
you were authorised to inform the Hong Kong Labour Party
that Mrs. White's reply to this question represented the
present Government's policy. The reply ran as follows:·
"In the special circumstances of Hong Kong,
there are obvious limitations on political
development. My Hon. Friend will be aware
that additions to the rembership of the
Legislative Council were made in July of this
year. My Rt. Hon. Friend has no immediate
plans for further change, but we shall, of
course, consider any ways within the present
framework in which the people may be more
closely associated with the government of the
territory."
Later, in answer to a supplementary question,
....
Mrs. White said: " I think we had better wait a
little longer before ary further charges are made."
3.
This year, as you know, there has been a
/further Page 116 of 344
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CONFIDENTIAL
furthePage$tipofb34Rankin (11th February) about the Civic AssociatioPage 111 of 34
plan for turning the Urban Council into a "House of Representatives"
(your tels Nos. 90 and 169 refer).
Since then there has been
14 +16+ Pol
FED 175/400/04
correspondence between Rankin and the Secretary of State about
the petition to the Prime Minister from the London Action
Committee of the U.N.A.H.K. (copies of which are being sent
to you separately) containing a demand for an elected
Legislative Council.
4.
Although only this one l'ember has recently shown a
close interest, we think that Ministers may come under increasing
any case
im
pressure on this issue. We anticipate that they will also
wish to be quite sure in their own minds that all ressonable
and safe steps towards constitutional advance in Hong Kong are bema
Thurik
have beer taken. I consider therefore that we should examine
delay
afresh and without further det any possibilities there may
be of introducing changes that are not likely to rock the
boat or, if they might rock it, involve a risk that it is
perhaps acceptable to take. We might examine this under two
heads:-
(a) Extension of the Urban Council functions and
franchise.
(b) A widening of the field from which members of the
5.
Legislative Council are selected for appointment
(including the possibility of appointing
elected Urban Council members).
On the face of it Urban Council responsibilities
cover a very limited and perhaps humdrum field. Moreover
they have little or no financial responsibility, their
financed
services being met from Central Government revenues and their estimates being subject to approval in detail (I
Services gather you have had a little storm over the Urban-Souneil
estimates recently). Their work within the furstion's allocated (e.g. resettlement, provision of public amenities)
is undoubtedly growing in volume but is there enough of
sufficient interest and importance in it to make them
feel that they are doing a worthwhile job? I realise