TNAG-0372-FCO40-418-Visits-of-members-of-Heung-Yee-Kuk-(Rural-Consultative-Counc-1973 — Page 24

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CONFIDENTIAL

5. MR ROYLE REPLIED THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS WELL AWARE OF THE NEED

TO TAKE THE INTERESTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES INTO CONSIDERATION. HE HIMSELF WELCOMED THE DECISION OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK TO SET UP A

SUB-COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE SITUATION. THE ROLE OF THE DISTRICT

COMMISSIONER, NEW TERRITORIES WAS STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION. THE SETTING UP OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE WAS THEREFORE TIMELY, THE BRITISH

RESPECTED THE TRADITIONS OF THE CHINESE PEOPLE. BUT AT THE SAME

TIME LIFE DID NOT STAND STILL. IF HONG KONG WAS TO SURVIVE AND TO THRIVE, DEVELOPMENT MUST TAKE PLACE. MR ROYLE ADDED THAT HE WOULD TAKE A PERSONAL INTEREST IN THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE

HEUNG YEE KUK. BUT THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG TOOK PLACE IN HONG KONG NOT IN THE FCO. THE GOVERNOR WAS RESPONSIBLE AND HONG KONG

CHANNELS MUST BE USED FOR DISCUSSIONS AND DECISIONS ABOUT THE NEW

TERRITORIES,

6.

LATER MEMBERS OF THE KUK FROM SHA TAU KOK RAISED THE QUESTION

OF THE CLOSED AREA, AND WHETHER PERMITS COULD NOT BE MORE EASILY OBTAINED, FOR EXAMPLE IN LONDON FOR RETURNING RESIDENTS, MR ROYLE

SAID THAT HE WOULD REFER THE LATTER POINT TO YOU. WE WOULD BE

GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS ON THIS.

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PS/MR ROYLE

MR WILFORD SIR D WATSON

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