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MR BOWDEN'S VISIT
SEMP 373167
MR Bowden, the Secre for 4 meeting with "local
tary of State for Com- nonwealth Affairs, ended his brief visit to the Colony last evening. Hongkong has learnt by this time that no magic formula covers visits by Ministers and MPs. Many observers coming here under private
predecessors,
can scarcely be unfamiliar if the files of his Ministry are up to date. In an open letter the Civic Association pointed out that Hongkong was still the most backward of Britain's remaining Colonies "in terms of poli- tical progress" (Aden being presumably an illustration of what progress means). Mr Bowden did, however, make it clear that he considered political
the reform, in sense of "greater participa- tion in neighbourhood affairs," to be much Hongkong's business; and he made a similar comment when ques- tioned as to his attitude to
political parties" and the onfission was perhaps impo- it. But as he said him- self he had very little time. And he might have added that the views of the Civic Association and the Reform Club, submitted in detail to
various semi-private his or auspices do little more than confirm their own precon- ceived notions. For some the Colony represents the acme of free enterprise; for others the vista comprises nothing but dark satanic mills and sweated labour. In Mr Bowden's case the tour was not unnaturally mainly at the official level which im- plies a display of by no means inconsiderable achievements rather than a flaunting of sores. But after all it should not take a Minister
to Jong
review the figures that point up Our educational in- adequacies, our housing problems or the knife-edge upon which our commercial and industrial progress balances. From the latter point of view it was probably most important that the Minister should be reminded of the business community's concern over the possible entry of Britain into the Common Market, and all the evidence points to his appreciation of this.
Some criticism has been voiced because the Secretary of State did not make time
now
very Own
not
the Kowloon riots report. Such an attitude may satisfy those who tend to polarise their ideas between independent ambitions (eg, in the matter of citizenship) and abject appeals to White- hall whenever something wrong. But the goes majority of the community would probably assign higher priority to increas- ing the Minister's aware- ness of the Colony's trading vulnerability to external pressures, whether from Lancashire or EEC.
No reply from Bowden
a
(Continued from Page 1)
"a heartening sign," said Mr L, but it was not enough. No victimisation of tea-
The memorandum also ad- chers who voluntarily work for
to vocated increased assistance trade union. "Often when teachers work for a trade union, head teachers tell them it is against the policy of the school. they are dis- If they continue missed or obstacles are placed in the way of promotion."
A teacher exchange system between Hongkong and Britain. A system whereby teachers were exchanged be- tween the two countries pay and lodging would be provided by the host country would be advantageous to pupils and tea- chers in both places, Mr Li said. "Mr James Johnson (a Labour M.P. who visited Hongkong recently) approved of the idea and said he do something about it in Britain."
Equality of pay and in- creased assistance to teachers in aided schools. "All teachers should be paid the same if they are doing the same work, whether they are in aided schools or not," Mr Li said.
Increased expenditure on education. The proposed increased expenditure the (1967-68), Budget was
in
private schools, promotion chances for non-graduate local teachers, fixed minimum pay for teachers, establishment of an appeals board and an employ- ment committee, and compulsory free education throughout Hong- kong.
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7/3/67
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