Decision soon on Hongkong's
next
Governor
The man to succeed Sir David Trench as the Governor of Hongkong will be appointed before the General Elections in Britain, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr Michael Stewart, said yesterday.
He was speaking to reporters at Kai Tak airport before flying to Tokyo. Mr Stewart had held discussions with members of the Executive and Legislative Councils since his arrival on Friday.
Mr Stewart said the question of the next Governor of Hongkong had been very much in his mind and a decision would have to be reached
soon.
"Naturally, I should not do that without considering the wishes and feelings here, but in the end the responsibility will have to be mine. Constitutionally, I have responsibility to decide
the
on
what advice is given to the Queen," Mr Stewart said. He said it was a decision which would not be delayed it would be for long and
known before the next Gen- eral Elections.
Mr Stewart said it was a "great pleasure" for him to make this visit and it was the first time a man holding his office visited Hongkong.
Thriving community
He said he came "to look, to listen and to inform my
self."
He described Hongkong as a "thriving, vigorous comTM
Junity."
Mr Stewart at the press
conference yesterday.
problems did arise, such as on the matter of trade be- tween Hongkong and the United Kingdom.
Hongkong is a dependency but on the other hand there
Giving a "purely personal opinion, he said: "I would have said it is a very valuable part of any government that the simplest and least sophis- ticated citizen should feel, if he thinks an injustice has been done to him, there is somebody to whom he can go and who will study his grievances, see if there is any substance in them and put it right."
"But, "Mr Stewart pointed out,
have "you already several channels to that end the Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils (UMELCO) and the City District Officers."
He said this was a matter for consideration and what should be done first was to see if people were making the fullest use of these organisa- tions.
"An Ombudsman is not necessarily the only way to realise this principle," he added.
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а
Trade with China were a number of matters on which "no British Govern-
Speaking on Anglo-Chinese ment ought to reach a de- relationship, Mr Stewart cision without the very full- said: "There has been a de- est consideration of Hong- cided improvement in econo- kong opinion and interests."
relationships and Mr Stewart said he learned growth in volume of our Asked whether there was a about the progress in solving trade." Lasibility of the scope of the social problems, the hopes of On political relationships, Urban Council being widened, improving methods of trans- he said Britain and China Mr Stewart said "there are port and the growth of the were on a more satisfactory proposals already being economy during his short basis now than formerly. examined and I shall look at visit. them with very great care when they come to me."
He declined to comment on possible constitutional changes the in the Colony. be-
Discussions included constitutional position
Asked about the Ombuds- tween Hongkong and the man issue, Mr Stewart said United Kingdom, but most of he knew it was a matter of
interest
before the details were confidential.
here However, he noted that arrival.
his
A number of British and Hongkong subjects who were detained without reason were recently released.
"I can say, cautiously, things have been rather more satisfactory recently than they were some time ago and I hope for Hongkong and Bri- tain, this will continue," he stated.
Asked whether Britain's de- cision to withdraw her troops east of Suez in 1971 would be reconsidered in the light of developments in Cambodia, Mr Stewart said:
"I do not think we can or ought to reconsider the deci- sion about our withdrawal from the Far East. I doubt very much if anyone would have it that, even if the deci- sion has not been made, we ■ ought to have gotten involved in actual fighting in Southeast Asia."
Geneva Conference
"We have, of course, said that we will retain a gen- eral capability and would, in certain circumstances, inter- vene in Far Eastern affairs, H but we are not under any T in commitment to do so."
S
It is
On Cambodia, Mr Stewart said: "I do regard what E happened in Cambodia as C very serious indeed. very much our view, as one of the co-Chairmen of the v Geneva Conference that the conference should be recon- vened and a peaceful solu- tion found."
t I
On the Middle East war,n Mr Stewart said he be-t lieved it would be good to have direct negotiations butt it was clear that the Arab countries had strong objec- tions and another solution must be found.
While in Japan, Mr Stewart t will take part in a regular series of talks with the i Japanese Government.
Mr Stewart was seen offi by the Governor, Sir David g Trench.
S.C.M. Port.
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