TNAG-0522-FCO40-617-Discussions-with-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 110

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4.

Sir Murray MacLehose replied that it was often difficult to equate conditions in Hong Kong with those prevailing in the United Kingdom and some of the criticism was not, in his view, soundly based. The Legislative Council, for instance, was more closely approximated to a Cabinet than to a Parliament and a high calibre of member was essential. He accepted that members

from the lower income brackets would need to be included in due

course and the Hong Kong Government was keeping a close watch on people in the Mutual Aid Committees for the emergence of natural leaders. A particular difficulty was, of course, the problem which would arise if membership of the Legislative Council reflected KMT/Communist tensions in the Colony. The election of

an Urban District Councillor with KMT affiliations had been subject to representations from the Chinese recently. Mr Callaghan observed that as an administrator, he could understand the need for high calibre in the members of the Legislative Council, but this was not an argument which would carry much weight politically

here. He thought that the political difficulties associated with KIIT/Communist tensions would be more readily appreciated in

informed circles here.

5.

Mr Callaghan suggested that some understanding of the realities of the Hong Kong situation could develop if the Parliamentary group on Hong Kong could be strengthened by the inclusion of influential members and it was agreed that further

consultations on this should take place. The aim would be to

invite such members from both parties to take a continuing interest in the Colony and to visit it from time to time.

Sir Murray MacLehose said that he had several times offered to see members of the Labour International Group but this had not been

taken up.

Mr Callahan said that on the Governor's next visit he

would try to arrange this and come to the meeting himself. A meeting with equivalent Conservative members might also be possible. He also felt that the TUC International Committee might agree to see the Governor, perhaps over dinner, and he would approach Mr Jack Jones about this in advance of Sir Murray's next visit.

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