TNAG-0571-FCO40-704-Planning-paper-on-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 27

CONFIDENTIAL

Paras

3. Lord Goronwy-Roberts explained that the problem was that the Governor needed to make a statement specific enough to be used in defence of Hong Kong by HMG here, while not stirring up opposition in Hong Kong. He had agreed with Sir Murray MacLehose that they would consult together about a formula which would meet both requirements. Sir M MacLehose said that he thought that the best way out of the difficulty was to state the specific needs of legislation for the next session of the Legislative Council; and to end with a general statement that industrial conditions in Hong Kong were recognised to be not up to the best in Asia and that it was his Government's intention to reach such a standard within five years. He would later, in briefing the press, explain that some points that would need to be looked at are the questions of, eg the minimum wage which existed in Singapore. He thought that this could be supplemented by a document giving a schedule of the further improvements that would be made over the next five years which Ministers here could show to interested bodies like the TUC in confidence. He said that Ministers would need to explain how important it was to preserve the confidentiality of the document, if the targets in the programme were to be met. Mr Crosland said that he would be satisfied with a general statement of the long-term aims provided it was in a form which was reasonably quotable here and made for social improvement in Hong Kong without damaging the Hong Kong economy. A document in more specific terms would be useful to show those interested here..

4. Mr Crosland asked what procedure was envisaged for consultation on Hong Kong's budget. Lord Goronwy-Roberts replied that this was a difficulty but that Sir Murray MacLehose had suggested that, during his regular visits to London each December, he would be in a position to outline the broad lines of his budget strategy. Advance knowledge of this was essential but he thought the procedure suggested by Sir Murray MacLehose would meet the case. Mr Crosland agreed.

Legislative Council

5. Mr Crosland said that while he recognised the practical difficulties facing the Governor in the appointment of a trade unionist to the Legislative Council, the matter had now assumed symbolic importance here and it was, in his view, essential that such an appointment should be made now. He thought the minimum was one trade unionist, and one other representative of working class interests. Sir M MacLehose explained that he, of course, accepted Mr Crosland's view about the inclusion of a trade unionist and he meant also to include two religious figures with a known interest in social welfare and industrial relations. Both the latter were foreign nationals but both had said they would serve if asked to do so (it had been necessary to broach the matter with them and indeed with their superiors). He had told them that he wanted them because of their record of work in improving conditions in Hong Kong for the lower income group; and that that was to be their role as members of the Legislative Council.

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