TNAG-0367-FCO40-413-Visits-of-UK-Members-of-Parliament-to-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 45

*1=

HONG KONG STANDARD Friday 2 November 1973

Reference...

(140)

O

'British MPs

adopt selfish view of HK'

MOST Britons hold out-of-date views of Hongkong and tend to disregard the Colony's problems.

URBAN COUNCILLORS GET

COOL RECEPTION

PS/Royle

REGISTRY 4021 |

cc Sir D Watson

Mr Youde

Mr Stuart

13

.t

OV 1775

~KK 3/548/2

P.M. Keely

P. M. Kelly (Miss) Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department

吗

стиль николоз

ра

Prik 1214

Miss Mykly.

Many

Raw Guest

al".

And although a few British Members of Parliament express concern over some Hongkong issues, their view is only to protect their own commercial interest in the Colony.

This was

the view of Urban Councillor Dr Denny Huang who

had just

completed a 10-day familiarisation visit to London with three of his fellow Urban Councillors, on the invitation of British Government.

"I think they could do very little to help in solving our problems here," he told the Standard when he arrived at

· Kaitak yesterday.

Looking tired but in high spirits after his 16-hour air journey, the outspoken elected councillor however admitted the trip was "beneficial" on the official side.

"We visited many offices including the Greater London Council and learned many methods in handling urban affairs," he said.

In commenting on the unofficial exchange of views with MPs over "hot issues” in Hongkong, Dr Huang was less optimistic. He said the MPs could help very little in solving the problems.

According to the councillor, subjects brought up for private discussions with British officials including Mr Anthony Royle, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, and Sir Duncan Watson, Deputy Under-Secretary of State, were:

y

te

FRED U Q

LI

e

e

2

A

I

the Urban C

Death penalty;

market

scope of

Elected representatives in

Legislative Council, and;

Hongkong's reserve value

Was

protection and how they should be used in improving Hongkong's social welfare. "The film Squeeze shown on television on the second day after we arrived in London, but we were too busy with engagements to see it," Dr Huang said.

But the reaction from the general public there seemed to be much cooler than expected, he said.

DAMAGING

"I could not find much publicity on the film in the press the next day although a few reporters telephoned me the same night."

On the Godber Case, Dr Huang said some MPs regarded the issue as damaging to the image of police force trained by Britain and would make Britain "lose face."

"But the MPs

were still insistent that a witness should ¦ ¦ be required to lay a charge against Godber before anything could be done. It's the same old tune," he said.

Firmer opinions were expressed by the MPs on the issue of elected representatives for the Legislative Council, which was originally suggested by Dr Huang himself.

"Several MPs are in favour of the suggestion and pledged their support," he said.

On capital punishment, Dr Huang said that he had exchanged personal views with a number of British officials but the contents of talks are being treated as confidential.

"Some of the MPs expressed concern over some issues in Hongkong with a selfish view. Most of those had some sort of commercial interest in the Colony," he said.

Commenting on Hongkong's reserves in Britain, Dr Huang said the question was not only how to protect our reserve value but also whether Hongkong should continue to place reserves in London or even should withdraw part of it for the improvement of social welfare here.

"British people are enjoying better social welfare than the

Why shoulda't back omis of the

own?

DD 145177 219242 500M 4/73 GM 3643/2

#

Page 45Page 46