GRS 360
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT/A
FM HONG KONG 280490Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL ·
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY NO. 51 28SEP1976
AXK 018/500/3
Chiel LAKK 013/508/4
TO PRIORITY F C O TELEGRAM NO 970 OF 28 SEPTEMBER.
M.1.P.T.
LEG CO SPEECH: LABOUR LEGISLATION.
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IN RECONSIDERING THE DRAFT I AGREED WITH LORD GORONWY ROBERTS, IT HAS BEEN REPRESENTED TO ME THAT PARA 7 IS UNDULY HARSH IN TONE AND WILL UNNECESSARILY ANTAGONISE PEOPLE IN HONG KONG AS BEING (A) UNBALANCED AND A LITTLE UNFAIR AND (B) POSITIVELY INVITING THE IMPOSITION OF RESTRICTIONS ON HONG KONG PRODUCTS. 1 SEE FORCE IN THESE CRITICISMS FROM THE LOCAL POINT OF VIEW, AND ALSO WONDER WHETHER SOME PASSAGES MIGHT NOT BE QUOTED BACK IN LONDON BY PROTECTIONISTS. MOREOVER EXCEPT FOR THE TIME LIMIT OF 5 YEARS (WHICH OF COURSE MUST BE INCLUDED) IT ADDS NOTHING TO THE SUBSTANCE WHICH LIES IN THE EXCEPTIONALLY LARGE PACKAGE OF LEGISLATION ITSELF AND THE TARGET OF COMPARABILITY (WHICH ARE ALSO NOT AT ISSUE). HOWEVER IT DOES CONTAIN SOME POINTS WHICH NEED SAYING AND SO LONG AS THEY ARE NOT OVER-SAID SHOULD HELP TO SMOTHER OPPOSITION IN PROCESSING THE LEGISLATION, THOUGH THEY WILL CAUSE A SHARP REACTION.
2. WITH ALL THIS IN MIND I HOPE YOU WILL AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING REDRAFT (PARAS 1-6 ARE UNCHANGED) :
IT IS TRUE THAT OUR WORKERS' INCOMES ARE HIGHER THAN OUR COMPETITORS', AND THAT THEIR STANDARD OF LIVING AS A WHOLE COMPARES WELL. BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE HON MEMBERS WOULD BELIEVE
IT RIGHT THAT ON THIS ACCOUNT WE SHOULD AIM AT PROVIDING THEM WITH LESS PROTECTION, NOR COULD WE DEFEND A LOWER TARGET INTERNATIONALLY OR AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF THE SORT OF SOCIETY WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD. THIS IS A FIELD IN WHICH WE HAVE MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS IN THE LAST 6 OR 7 YEARS, THERE IS NOT VERY FAR TO GO TO REACH THE STANDARD WE HAVE SET,
CONFIDENTIAL
LAND.
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