SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
- 1 JUN 1969
Cutting dated
Britain tries
tighter rein in Hongkong
By FRANK ROBERTSON in Hongkong
ATTEMPTS by Lord Shepherd, Minister of
State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to introduce reforms in a reactionary system of government will meet strong opposition from
the Hongkong establish- ment this week.
One of the main aims of the visit, which began yesterday, is to secure the appointment of an "ombuds- man to handle complaints of the under - privileged Chinese.
"
They believe, however mis- takenly, that in Hongkong money buys privilege.
Sir David Trench, the Gover- nor, has resisted any such appointment.
Lord Shepherd is also disturb- ed by the total lack of elected representation at an effective level, by the primitive state of management - labour relations, and by the demonstrated ineffec tiveness of the colony's labour department.
Priest's warning
Commenting оп a long- smouldering labour dispute in which workers have failed to receive back pay from a bank- rupt construction firm, Fr. Francis Elsinger, an American
Roman Catholic priest, gave warning on Friday that new riots like those of 1967 will occur unless the government reviews its labour policy. He is an organiser of the unofficial labour advisory team.
Lord Shepherd will also tell the Government that it cannot expect a large British loan to extend its airport runway as long as it produces surplus budgets and maintains one of the world's largest per capita cash reserves.
He has asked the Government to arrange a "talk-in for him with the colony's university students. Some of these were prevented from intervening in the labour dispute last week. A number of their leaders are known Communists.
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