TNAG-0518-FCO40-613-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 31

16

CODE 18-77

Mr Janfrin

CONFIDENTIAL COVERING SECRET

Reference...........

(46)

HONG KONG:

1.

REPRESENTATIONS BY THE NEC

Please see the Governor's reply of 23 October to Sir Duncan Watson's letter of 8 August.

2. Since Sir Duncan Watson wrote his letter as a result of the Secretary of State's meeting with the NEC and the Secretary of State also saw it in draft, I think the Governor's reply should be submitted to Ministers. As for the timing of a submission, I think that the appropriate moment may be before the Governor comes into the Office for consultations in early December. The Governor's letter could form part of the briefing for the consultations.

3. It is not perhaps too soon, however, to consider what the Governor says in his letter. As he says in his final paragraph, he agrees more or less with all the proposals and suggestions made in Sir Duncan Watson's letter. The exception is the idea that the Secretary of State might discuss with the Chinese during his visit to Peking next Spring the desirability of more active Communist trade union interest in the processes of government in Hong Kong. The Governor has argued strongly and, I think, convincingly that this should not be done. The only other point on which the Governor takes issue is that of the workings of the Labour Advisory Board. I think that what he says is not unreasonable. For the rest, it looks as though we and the Governor are thinking and working along the same lines.

4.

One point which we should bear in mind is the proposed timing for the appointment of new members to the Legislative Council. In paragraph 2 of his letter the Governor mentions this as something for "next year". When he consulted us about what he should say in his annual address to the Legislative Council he first spoke of this as a step which he would hope to take next June (Hong Kong telno 992). He subsequently spoke of its happening in February/March (Hong Kong telno 1003). While the differences in possible timing are not great and it is clearly difficult to be precise in the circumstances, I imagine that when Ministers see the Governor in December they will wish to encourage him to work for as early a date as possible next year for the appointment of new members to the Legislative Council.

5. Flease bring up these papers on Mr O'Keeffe's return so that we can discuss with him.

29 October 1975

T. FU

D F Milton

Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Department

CC:

Sir Duncan Watson

CONFIDENTIAL COVERING SECRET