TNAG-0305-FCO40-341-Use-of-Chinese-as-official-language-in-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 107

學聯

OUR REF:

YOUR REF:

LEIMUS O SOC

HKFS

hong kong federation of students

香 港 專 上 學生聯會

23c waterloo road, kowloon hong kong

九龍窩打 老 道 二 十 三號C

tel. k-888137, 840048, 840049

telegram "HKFSTUDENT"

2

While the Chinese Language Committee was 'technically' dissolved after completion of its Fourth (and Final) Report, HKFS is committed to further negotiations with Government. For this purpose, I met Mr. Christopher Wong, Kowloon City District Commissioner yesterday. It was agreed by both parties that a meeting be held between officials of the Secretariat of Home Affairs and HKFS representatives to exchange views on the matter.

I also met Mr. Primrose, Administrative Secretary of the Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils Office, some days ago. He also agreed to arranged a meeting between the Unofficial Members and HKFS representatives. Although the Unofficial Members are not elected members and they are not expected by Government to play the role of the 'Opposition', HKFS recognises their role to represent the interest of the public. As such, HKFS will be calling on the UMELCO to recommend to Government that legislation be enacted accordingly. While the UMELCO has time and again been criticised for the non-involvement in public affairs, it is high time now that the UMELCO should live up to public aspiration.

The above projected meetings will form only part of HKFS action programme. HKFS, firmly believing in reasoning, will continue to base all arguments and actions on a sound rationale, and is determined to further the cause with peace-

ful means.

I raised in my last letter dated 22nd July that HKFS consider the whole matter a local issue, and that the Legislative Council of Hong Kong is in the right position to deal with the matter without any change in the Letters Patent and Royal Instructions. Your opinion on this point will be most appreciated.

I can recall that during our two previous meetings, first in Hong Kong at the Governor's House in October last year and second in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in January this year (I hope the money my family spent in paying for my trip to London has not been wasted), you had made no commitments whatsoever on the issue. Now that the Chinese Language Committee has reported its findings on matters of principles as well as technical difficulties, it is hoped that you may find yourself freer to make comments on the issue.