REC IVED
REGIN- 52
23 FEB1975
/WKK 3/54/6/21
Secretary of State
CONF TWENT
LAST
REF.
་་།
REF.
VISIT TO HONG KONG AND THE PHILIPPINES
44
Pla Res 25/42
I visited Hong Kong from 11 - 17 January and the Philippines from 17 - 20 January.
?. In Hong Kong I had discussions with the Governor, with senior officials dealing with social and economic affairs, with the Chief of Police, leading members of the Independent Commission against Corruption and with unofficial members of the Executive, Legislative and Urban Councils. i also net the Chairmen of Mutual Aid Committees, the Vice-Chancellors and members of the Faculties of the two Universities, represen- tatives of Trade Unions and a fairly wide spread of Hong Kong residents generally.
3. i had opportunities of seeing for myself how a number of problems, especially housing, are being tackled.
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC POLICY
4. Wy hasic conclusion is that there is now a general realisation in Hong Kong that the Colony must achieve social as well as economic success if it is to survive. I sought to reinforce this feeling at every opportunity.
5. There has been some social progress for years but the present Governor has markedly intensified the pace. In housing for example sone 2 million people (about 47% of the population) have already been rehoused through public programmes and the rehousing of a further 1.5 million over the next decade is in hand. Plans for health and education are also ambitious.
/6.
CONFIDENTIAL
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