TNAG-0523-FCO40-618-Visits-of-members-of-Urban-Council-from-Hong-Kong--to-UK-1975 — Page 111

GRS 180

CYPHER CAT/A

FM HONG KONG 012830Z

RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED

RECEIVED IN

REGISTRY, No, 50

- 2 MAY 1975

NXK 3/548/4

TO ROUTINE F C O TELEGRAM NUMBER 420 OF MAY.

OUR TELEGRAM NO 403: URBCO VISIT.

ON ARRIVAL AT AIRPORT ON 28 APRIL, DELEGATION GAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE, WHICH WAS WIDELY COVERED BY ALL MEDIA INCLUDING

COMMUNIST TA KUNG APO. MRS ELLIOTT WAS QUOTED IN SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST AS SAYING THAT THE TALKS WITH LORD GORONWY ROBERTS

WERE ''A DEAD LOSS' AND THE STAR HIGHLIGHTED HER REMARKS WITH

THE HEADLINE ''U.K. NOT INTERESTED IN HONG KONG REFORDIS””. DIFFERENCES OF OPINION AMONG THE DELEGATION AGAIN RECEIVED

EMPHASIS IN SEVERAL REPORTS.

27

2. MOVEMENT FOR REPRESENTATION IN GOVERNMENT, HOWEVER, PUT OUT A STATEMENT CARRIED BY STANDARD ON 30 APRIL THAT CONTRARY TO THE IMPRESSION GIVEN BY EARLIER REPORTS, LORD GORONWY ROBERTS HAD STOOD BY THE REMARKS WHICH HE MADE AT HIS PRESS CONFERENCE IN HONG KONG ON 16 JANUARY ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ELECTED LEGCO

AND HAD TOLD MRS ELLIOTT THAT BRITAIN WOULD BE PREPARED TO CONSIDER

REFORMS IF THERE WAS SHOWN TO BE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THEM.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HKIOD (4)

NEWS DEPT

FS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS

FED

COPIES TO:

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE

RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED