TNAG-0334-FCO40-370-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 142

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

CONFIDENTIAL

Second Report (Submitted in April 1971

the

This dealt with the use of Chinese and

English languagesjoral and written communications

between the Government and the public. The

proposals which it contains have also been

accepted in principle by the Hong Kong Executive

Council, subject to certain modifications of

a practical nature.

Third Report (Submitted in June 1971)

This was concerned with use of Chinese in

court proceedings and as a language of the

law. It raises more difficult issues and a

its memorandum covering this submission to the

Executive Council is being prepared in

Hong Kong.

Fourth Report (Submitted in July 1971)

It

This deals in principle with the status of

English and Chinese and with the promulgation

of both languages as official languages.

is much the most difficult report for the

Hong Kong Government to accept and they are

studying its proposals very carefully,

especially in relation to their possible

effect on the recommendations in the third

report.

3. This matter is unlikely to be raised by the

unofficial members of the Executive and Legislative

Councils. It is however an emotive issue in the

Colony which has aroused strong feelings in certain

quarters, particularly in student circles and with

some fairly prominent persons (such as Dr Denny

Huang, an Urban Counsellor who has been conducting

a personal campaign on the subject).

It may

CONFIDENTIAL

/therefore...