TNAG-0530-FCO40-625-Trade-union-relations-in-Hong-Kong-industry-1975 — Page 112

SECRET

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London S.W.1

8 August 1975

A

His Excellency

dir Murray MacLehose KCMG KOVO MBE

HONG KONG

"Dear Thuna

HONG KONG:

RE:

4'

(26)

REPRESENTATIONS BY THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE

COMMITTEE OF THE LABOUR PARTY

RES

RE I

20 AUG 1975

The Secretary of State held a departmental meeting on 21 July to consider the representations about Hong Kong made to him by the International Committee of the EC on 23 April. Among those present were Lord Goronwy-Roberts, Mr Rowlands, Tom McNally, Laurence O'Keeffe, Bill Bentley and myself.

2. You will have seen from your copy of the record of the meeting on 23 April that the NEC raised four questions:

(a) elections to the Legislative Council;

HkKilb(a) HKKI

5/31 HKK

Conventions in Hong Kong;

3/3(b) progress towards the implementation of ILO

UKK3/20 (0) the situation of the trade unions and labour

(a)

4KK5/23

3.

relations generally; and

the possibility of simplifying the liong Kong Trade Union Ordinance and subsidiary legislation.

The Secretary of State accepted that the introduction of the MACs and the limited electoral system introduced for the Urban Council represented a reasonable approach to constitutional development, bearing in mind the attitude o China and the deep divisions of political allegiance existing within the Colony. He also accepted Lord Goronwy-Roberbs's point that, while some further progress along these lines may be possible (e.g. by granting further limited powers to the urban Council), the difficulties of moving to an electoral system for the Legislative and Executive Councils were formidable, perhaps even decisive. Despite this, he remains unconvinced that progress towards the widening of the social basis of an appointed Leg Co should necessarily be as slow

/as

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