TNAG-0588-FCO40-721-Publications-on-Hong-Kong-affairs-in-UK-Fabian-Society-pamph-1976 — Page 76

CONFIDENTIAL

GRS 500

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER CAT/A

FM HONG KONG 220742Z

CONFIDENTIAL

NG. 51

Ad dol

NXK300/348/1

TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELEGRAM NO 69 OF 22 JANUARY.

PLEASE PASS TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON,

FABIAN SOCIETY PAMPHLET.

DRAFT PRESS RELEASE.

FOLLOWING IS THE BASIS OF A DRAFT PRESS RELEASE WHICH WE PROPOSE TO ISSUE HERE, IF NECESSARY, AFTER PUBLICATION OF THE PAMPHLET,

QUOTE:

13

THE PAMPHLET WAS WRITTEN BY MR. JOE ENGLAND, WHO WAS A LECTURER AND LATER DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EXTRA-MURAL STUDIES AT HONG KONG UNIVERSITY FROM 1967-71. HE IS NOW DOING POST GRADUATE WORK INTO TRADE UNIONISM AT WARWICK UNIVERSITY.

2. THE PAMPHLET IS WRITTEN FROM AN EXPATRIATE VIEWPOINT AND DOES NOT RECOGNISE SUFFICIENTLY THE EXTENSIVE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BRITAIN AND HONG KONG, NOR IS THERE ANY ATTEMPT TO ANALYSE THE DIFFERENCES IN THE CULTURE, LIFE-STYLE, ASPIRATIONS AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS GOVERNMENT WHICH EXIST BETWEEN EASTERN AND WESTERN PEOPLES.

3. ALTHOUGH THE FACTS CONTAINED IN THE PAMPHLET ARE GENERALLY CORRECT, IT PRESENTS A ONE SIDED, AND AT TIMES INCOMPLETE AND OUT OF DATE, ASSESSMENT. WE ACCEPT THAT THERE ARE DEFICIENCIES IN THE STANDARDS OF LIFE OF MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG. WE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO HIDE OR GLOSS OVER OUR PROBLEMS: THEY ARE FRANKLY DISCUSSED IN GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS: THEY ARE THE SUBJECT OF PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS AND ENQUIRIES BY MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, JOURNALISTS, ACADEMICS AND OTHERS. OUR INADEQUACIES AND DIFFICULTIES ARE CONSTANTLY DISCUSSED IN THE COMPLETELY FREE PRESS, T.V, AND RADIO WHICH FLOURISH IN HONG KONG,

CONFIDENTIAL.

4. THE