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PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL
THE LABOUR PARTY
ID/1974-75/108 INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
LETTER FROM THE FOREIGN SECRETARY ON
HONG KONG.
"Dear Mik,
I have now been able to reflect on the advice I have been given on the various points raised when you and other members of the NEC called on me on 23 April to discuss Hong Kong.
"On the question of membership of the Legislative Council, I can say two things. The first is that, while I would prefer to see constitutional pro- gress in Hong Kong, as elsewhere in our remaining dependencies, I think progress rust to a largo extent depend upon Chinese attitudes. I do not think you will need any reminding that we have no vested interest in non-olective legislatures anywhere, least of all in our remaining Colonial possessions. But in consider- ing ways forward, we would be very unwise to ignore the dangers, not only to Hong Kong itself but also to our relations with China, if we sought to introduco an electoral syston against the wishes of China. As I told you on 23 April, the Chinese were not at all happy over the election of somoone of known KIIT affilia- tions to the Urban Council. This is illustrative of the difficulties we might encounter in secking to introduce popular representation in the Legislativo Council, which is a body of much wider powers.
"The second is that I share the Committee's concern at the prosent social composition of the Legislative Council. It is, in my view, too honogeneous and not sufficiently representative of all sections of the community. I accept that it will not be easy to find people of the right stature from the population at large but I am asking the Governor to have a very close look at this over the next few months with a view to seeing what can bo done to remedy the situation. I hope to have nows about this in due course.
"I was glad that the Committee once again brought the question of Hong Kong adherence to the Conventions of the ILO to my attention because I think we can effect some improvement in our present arrangonents here. I have accepted a proposal that Hong Kong's performance in this respect should be looked at in January each year by Goronwy Roberts who will examine the situation with a view to introducing a more dynamic approach. I think that Hong Kong's perfor- nance is quite creditable, particularly when compared with her Asian neighbours, but clearly as a territory for which we are responsible the highest standards must be maintained.
"I think we are all agrood that the trade union situation in Hong Kong differs very considerably from our own and that many of the points made by San McCluskie with relation to scamen, and yourself about the more general problem, need looking into. One difficulty is that not enough is yet known about the labour relations situation in Hong Kong in its political and sociolog- ical context, to come to any sensible conclusions as to how and where things might be bottered. I am thinking of commissioning a study of the whole natter but the modalities will require careful consideration and I will let you know what we have in mind when the Governor has been able to give advice. I think a mini-Donovan, a suggestion I put forward at our neeting on 23 April, would probably be too conspicuous. But we may be able to achieve the same results with a lower profile.
"My advisers horo agree that Hong Kong trade union legislation, as you suggested, may be somewhat antiquated and over-claborate. There is a Bill at present before the Legislative Council which should do something to inprovo natters and I an told that Hong Kong practice is more liberal on such matters as association, and employment of paid officials by unions, than the letter of tho
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