TNAG-0278-FCO40-314-Visit-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Aff-1970 — Page 20

CONFIDENTIAL

17

Document No. 6

TRANSCRIPT OF A PRESS CONFERENCE GIVEN BY THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY, AT HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AT 4 p.m. ON SUNDAY, 19 APRIL,

1970

Mr. Stewart: It's been a great pleasure to make this visit to Hong Kong although unavoidably it's been a very short one. I came as you may have imagined to look, to listen, to inform myself. This is the first time that anyone holding the office of Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary has visited Hong Kong. Of course the moment you land here, you become aware of a thriving, vigorous community. It's a matter of special interest to us in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office because it is, of course, far and away the most populous of all of the dependent territories of the United Kingdom. Well, I have tried while I have been here, in conversations with a good many people, to inform myself both of your hopes and of your problems, and I would want to assure the people of Hong Kong that we in Britain try to understand their problems and wish them well. Now you no doubt will want to ask questions. Whether or not I shall be able to answer them you will find out---but I shall do my best.

Mr. Paul Strauss (Hong Kong Standard): You are undoubtedly aware that the elected representatives of Hong Kong have only a say in the administration of such problems as sewage, parks and refuse collection. Do you think that in a reasonable amount of time, elected representatives will have a say in such matters as education, social welfare, public works?

Mr. Stewart: Well, I understand that there are proposals already being examined about your local government arrangement about the position of the Urban Council, and I shall look at them with very great care when they come to

me.

Mr. Lon Port (Radio Hong Kong): What specific subjects have you discussed during your visit here?

Mr. Stewart: Well, I think all those that you might imagine. The problems of the social services of the Colony, the one that was just raised about the powers of local government, matters of trade, the constitutional position as between Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, and the relations both of the United Kingdom and Hong Kong with China.

Mr. Lon Port: Do you feel that your discussions here will lead to any major change of policy in any direction at all?

Mr. Stewart: Well, this is one of the things I thall have to consider when I get back. As I say I came here to inform myself. Before making decisions, I shall have to have a little time to think.

Mr. Frank Robertson (Daily Telegraph): When you were informing yourself, did you speak with other than civil servants or appointed members of the Executive and Legislative Councils?

Mr. Stewart: Not in a formal sense. I met both the official and the unofficial members of the Councils, and I have met some other people less formally. I have tried within the limited time to keep myself as informed as I could.

CONFIDENTIAL