TNAG-0576-FCO40-709-Visits-of-UK-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 67

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CODE 18 - 77

14. Mr Duffy's brief on the British Council's Office in Hong Kong. is attached in case this topic is raised.

Meeting with members of UMELCO

11 sepente minute

15. A copy of my minute of 15 July reporting on my meeting with members of UMELCO is attached. You might take note of any reactions by members of UMELCO to the Governor's address to Legco, assuming it has taken place on 6 October. Any signs of resistance to particular measures would be of interest. You will also have an opportunity to form your own impressions of new members of Legco. (A/list of the members of Legco, Exco etc is attached.)

Meeting with Mr Bell, Acting Director of Public Works

(Alist

16. You could enquire about the Sau Mau Ping disaster and the progress of the experts' enquiries into what went wrong.

SATURDAY 9 OCTOBER

Meeting with Mr Oblatis, Acting Director of Urban Services, and Mr Sales, Chairman of the Urban Council

17. A copy of my minute of 23 July reporting on similar meetings in Hong Kong is attached. The Chairman of the Urban Council raised the question of the position which he and his fellow Councillors should occupy in the Hong Kong Table of Precedence. The Hong Kong Government have since proposed that the Chairman should be upgraded. This point is being considered but it is unlikely that there will be any objection to it.

Further meetings with the Governor and the Chief Secretary

18. This will provide an opportunity to pursue the discussions on 4 October and any talk you may have had with the Governor at his dinner for you on 7 October. Other topics are:-

i. Mr Kidd's idea that the Governor might give a talk

at Chatham House in December

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ii. Lord Goronwy-Roberts' suggestion, put to Mr James

Johnson MP and Mr Ben Ford MP in June, that an all-Party group of MPs might visit Hong Kong in the Christmas or Easter Recess at the invitation of the Governor (not an official delegation to report to the Secretary of State)

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iii. The fact that officials in the FCO, including the PUS,

are in favour of Lord Goronwy-Roberts visiting Hong Kong (as well as Thailand and Korea) and will seek to persuade him to do so. (The Governor's visit in December will provide an opportunity to try to take this further.)

MONDAY 11 OCTOBER

Meeting with Mr Jordan, Director of Commerce and Industry

19. Topics are:-

i. The Community's GSP Scheme for 1977 (copies of your two

/letters

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