TNAG-0616-FCO40-764-Policy-of-UK-on-status-of-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 185

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23)

NKK2012

1976

Flag

Mar

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(46) & (47

Mr Murray

Parliamentary Unit

Ovicinal at: NKK 0121)

THL Copy for: NKX 040/540// adi_only / Action on Fare(s) (4).

HONG KONG: PQ8 MR. FRANK HOOLEY MP

1. Hr Frank Hooley MP (Labour Sheffield, Heeley Division)

has tabled 12 Questions on Hong Kong for Written Answer on

9 May.

Two of these cover political and constitutional subjects

and the remainder labour matters,

2.

Mr Hooley put down 38 PQs to the FCO in 1976 on Hong Kong'

affairs. The subjects covered included constitutional develop- ment, corruption, drugs, labour matters and the Chinese attitude towards Hong Kong. Mr Hooley was also one of the principal signatories of the Early Day Motion tabled last December by

r Robert Parry L., entitled "Democratic and Social Advance of Hong Kong Including his present Questions, Mr Hooley hus tabled 19 Questions to the ICO so far this year. (His previous ones were about the druga problem.)

3. bir Hooley's first Question, which is very similar to one tabled by Mr Jan Grist IP on 26 February 1974 follows on from

the Questions he asked on 15 November und 14 December on the

Chinese attitude towards, and the status of, Hong Kong. As before, they seem designed to bring out the point that IMG is the sovereign authority in Hong Kong and ought, therefore, to be able to introduce changes there, e.g. a representative form of government, regardless of Chinese susceptibilities. Mr Hooley is not inclined to accept that the "Chinese dimension" has to be

taken into account in determining what may or may not be done

in Hong Kong.

4. The change of title from "Colonial Secretary" to "Chief Secretary", which is part of the subject of Mr Hooley's fourth Question, was made in August last year. The Governor explained, when telling us of his intention to make this change, that the

new title would be more in keeping with the reorganization of

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