TNAG-0305-FCO40-341-Use-of-Chinese-as-official-language-in-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 57

HKK 8/3

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Hong Kong Department

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

MDA Clinton Esq CMG GM Acting Colonial Secretary Colonial Secretariat HONG KONG

LAST

LONDON SW1

10 November 1971

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1. I noticed in your Daily Information Bulletin for Wednesday 3 November that the Standing Orders of the Legislative Council have been changed to allow members to address the Council in either English or Cantonese, I have also been told that there have been advertisements in the Hong Kong press for "simultaneous translators"

2. We have of course seen the memorandum for Executive Council on the first report of the Chinese Language Committee, No XCC(71)17 dated 30 April 1971. Apart from that we do not seem to have any authoritative information on any action the Hong Kong Government proposes to take on the four reports of the Committee. It would be most helpful if you could arrange for somebody to let us have an account of the present state of play in connection with the Reports of this Committee.

E O Laird

D

anforth pt.

with

بهم

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