TNAG-0615-FCO40-763-Visit-by-delegation-from-Heung-Yee-Kuk-(Rural-Consultive-Cou-1997 — Page 34

Mr Murray

Mr Cortazzi

PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts

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HONG KONG: PETITION FROM HEUNG YEE KUK

1. The Governor of Hong Kong has now commented on and provided a draft reply to the petition and accompanying legal "Joint Opinion" which the Heung Yee Kuk delegation presented to Lord Goronwy-Roberts on 26 April during their visit to the UK.

2. When he accepted the petition the Minister told the delegation that he would study it "most carefully and that, in due course, he would be writing to Mr Cheung" (the Heung Yee Kuk's Vice Chairman and the leader of its delegation to the UK).

It is apparent that the Hong Kong Government have indeed studied it very carefully, at the same time reassessing a number of aspects of their own policies in regard to the development of Hong Kong's New Territories. I consider the content, length and tone of the draft admirably suited to the task of seeking to convince the Kuk that their case has been taken seriously.

3. At the end of his meeting with the Kuk, Lord Goronwy-Roberts told me and I subsequently conveyed his wish to the Governor that he would like to be able to tell the Kuk in his reply of an area in which, apparently as a result of their petition and their meeting with him, some concession was possible. The Governor has allowed for this in the statement in paragraph 8 of the draft reply that "the Minister has asked His Excellency to give careful consideration to the appointment to the Legislative Council

a person with particular knowledge of the New Territories".

The Governor had raised with me during my visit to Hong Kong in March the idea of appointment Mr CHAN Yak-san, the Kuk's Chairman, to LegCo and Lord Goronwy-Roberts subsequently approved it in principle.

CONFIDENTIAL