TNAG-0305-FCO40-341-Use-of-Chinese-as-official-language-in-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 157

is now awaited.

7. I think we must treat the letter as a petition and our

reply to it should accordingly be routed through the Governor.

I attach both a draft reply to the letter and a draft saving

despatch to the Governor. I have drafted in this form on

the assumption that Mr Royle would prefer the Federation to

receive a reply specifically from his office rather than that

we should ask the Governor to reply to them on his behalf.

27 July 1971

2.

EMarin

E O Laird

Hong Kong Department

(145181) Dd. 737490 750M 1/71 Hw.