7. THE MINISTER WAS IMPRESSED DURING HIS VISIT TO HONG KONG WITH THE CALIBRE AND DEVOTION OF URBAN COUNCILLORS, HOWEVER, HE IS CF THE VIEW THAT HONG KONG IS TOO SMALL AND TOO CONCENTRATED FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ANYTHING LIKE A FULLY FLEDGED LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODY EXERCISING WIDE POWERS,
8. THE MINISTER AGREES THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO CUT BACK IN THE
SOCIAL PROGRAMMIES OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BEYOND WHAT IS
UNAVOIDABLE IN TIMES OF SEVERE ECONOMIC STRINGENCY. HE KNOWS THAT
IT IS THE AIM OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO PRESS FORWARD AS
FAST AS IS POSSIBLE IN THE PREVAILING CIRCUMSTANCES.
9. HONG KONG ENJOYS A LARGE MEASURE OF AUTONOMY IN ITS FINANCIAL
AFFAIRS. THE MINISTER IS SATISFIED THAT THE DECISION TO FLOAT THE HONG KONG DOLLAR WAS TAKEN IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE TERRITORY.
10. A WORKING PARTY HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO EXAMINE THE QUESTION
OF UNREGISTRABLE DOCTORS IN HONG KONG. THE MINISTER UNDERSTANDS THAT THE REPORT OF THIS WORKING PARTY WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
11. WITH REGARD TO THE RETURN OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, THE MINISTER
HAS COMMENTED THAT THE REFORM CLUB WILL KNOW THAT THE PRESENT
POLICY IS A RETURN TO THE ARRANGEMENTS WHICH APPLIED UP TO 1967.
12.
IT IS OBVIOUS THAT HONG KONG CANNOT ALLOW UNRESTRICTED
IMMIGRATION. THE MINISTER IS ANXIOUS THAT THE REGULATIONS SHOULD BE APPLIED HUMANELY AND IS SATISFIED THAT HUMANITARIAN CONSIDER
ATIONS ARE TAKEN FULLY INTO ACCOUNT IN DECIDING WHETHER TO PERMIT
THE ENTRY OF ANY PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL.
13. THE PRESENT AGREEMENT ON DEFENCE COSTS BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT EXPIRES IN APRIL 1976. DISCUSSIONS AS TO THE SIZE OF GARRISON AND HONG KONG'S CONTRIBUTION TO ITS COST THEREAFTER ARE CONTINUING AT AN OFFICIAL LEVEL AND IT IS HOPED THAT AGREEMENT WILL DE REACHED BEFORE LONG ON THESE MATTERS''.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
a
HKIOD
NEWS D
P3
PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS
PS/PUS
2
RESTRICTED
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