TNAG-0446-FCO40-511-Discussions-with-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 8

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Peking

while

unior with China. A victory for the Nationalists

communists would be an intolerable affront to the Chinese

Communist

cocate

a Unionist victory would also subject them to obvious

Goremusent

problems. pressure

The Chinese had made it clear that they wished to negotiate with the British Government when the time was right.

التلمثلة 70

in citated it clicted forms.

It was also, not clear that people in Hong Kong would want to väte. Only a small proportion of the

vote Urban Council electorate bothered to do so, and the

+ Line elected Councillors came from the same social back- grounds as the appointed members. A more promising means of widening the representation on the Legisla- tive Council might be appoint, in a few years'

tive or the of the

were already pagini time, natural leaders who emerged from the new Mutual Aid Committees (of which there were now about 1,600, covering about one million people).

8.

to

there

h

It was observed that Portugal was finding, an Macao, that the Chinese attitude made normal consti-

tutional progress towards decolonisation impossible. In answer to a question from Mr McNally, Sir Murray commented that there were some restraints on Peking, particularly since:

8.

1) China earned about of her total foreign

exchange through Hong Kong,

2)

China's policy towards Hong Kong was such an obvious facet of her external policy generally, and

3) Peking needed to woo Hong Kong's Chinese

population, who were well aware of the inferior state of living conditions in Canton, Kowloon,

Lord Goronwy-Roberts agreed that it was important to do nothing precipitately. Policy in

[to

Hong Kong needed to be related to the real possibility

of a breakdown. It was observed that Hong kong currently received virtually no UK aid; nor, at present, did it need any.

/III

Labour

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III Labour and Social Affairs

9.

Asked by Mr McNally about the role of Hong Kong s trade unions, Sir Murray MacLehose said that about 5% of the Colony's labour force was unionised. The anions

were politically split between Communist and non-

Communist, and members of the Communist union had so far refused to serve on Government bodies. Generally, the unions' industrial functions had increased in the previous 2-3 years. The new Labour Relations Bill

would provide statutory backing for the/Labour Relations

Service of the Department of Labour, and provide for apist in

the settlement of labour disputes, where conciliation Saidet. Labour relations were generally good, but rash action by one injudicious management could have wide and unpredictable repercussions. Apart from the simple

question of labour relations, the Government was much concerned to improve working conditions (especially safety).

10.

Lord Goronwy-Roberts recognised that the Hong

Kong Government had a two-fold role. It should

initiate legislation to improve conditions, and it should provide the framework in which combination and

negotiation could occur. On the latter, it was not

for the Government to prompt the exact nature of trade union activity.

11.

V.K.

It was suggested that the TUC now appeared to accept that Hong Kong was making satisfactory progress on labour affairs generally. Lord Goronwy-Roberts

hoped that this progress would be continued.

IV The Death Penalty

He

12.

Sir Murray MacLehose said that the Executive

revisity for Council currently accepted the principle of commutation and that he had told them it would be very difficult for him to accept any advice not to commute. suggested that, if this line could be maintained, the

in Mary Mons issue might become less sensitive and it might then be possible in the not too distant future to abolish the

death sentence without major public disquiet. In the

off a series / messy

When conting

mik

murders would,

/meantime

i ste cussie om sexestion then err

S

aperticles I fifle becau

lens varied

varied all If micedem f richt wein

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H

To litle thy di Keng's contribution

in one step, which was what UK ministers, in effect proposed, was not viable in Hong Kong.

maximum that

the UK and Hous

Kory could fay, then

meantime the fight against crime would be continued

and, if it succeeded, public confidence would increase.

Lord Goronwy-Roberts agreed that if possible the status quo should be adhered to for the time being.

V Chinese Illegal Immigrants

of Wasal

grants

13. Lord Goronwy-Roberts said there had been little

reaction to the returns It was important that the screening process should be sufficient to permit genuine refugees to be identified.

14.

Sir Murray MacLehose was satisfied that the screening arrangements were satisfactory. The technical aspects of the returns had been well prepared by the Political Adviser and it was important that the Hong Kong Government should not be pushed (through the efforts of Amnesty or others) into the position that returnable illegals had to be held before it was confirmed that third countries would not accept them. Genuine refugees would be allowed to remain in Hong

Kong.

VI Defence Review

15.

Sir

urray MacLehose said that sudden doubling or trebling of Hong Kong's defence contribution would place an additional very great strain on the Colony's budget. The forthcoming negotiations would have to work within the parameters of:

1

12)

3)

professional assessment of the security requirement,

what the UK was prepared to pay, and

a feasible level of contribution from

Condell not be nong Kong.

But it the gap between the cost of the forces and the

16.

Lord Goronwy-Roberts agreed with the Governor that the minimum requirement for security purposes needed to be examined very thoroughly.

/VII

there might be no altenative to a drastic reductions in faces, undesirable

though this would be.

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