WBEB16.32
28404 HKGOVT G KEY+80273380+ 73380 GOVHK HX 28404
TX1103
HKGOVT G
EN CLAIR
FM HONGAID 091750%
R:
(၁၀)
TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONGKONG TELNO HK55 OF 8 JULY
FROM COMMISSIONER, LONDON
REFERENCE MIPT NO. HK543. PLEASE PASS COPY TO
SLIMMING, WHO HAS BEEN WARNED BY TELEPHONE TO EXPECT IT.
2.
RECOVER TW REGION
13 JUL!977
AKK 210/1
'THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON HAS LOOKED CAREFULLY INTO THE BACKGROUND OF THE PLAY EMPIRE MADE'', #HICH IS BEING STAGED FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN AT THE GREENWICH YOUNG PEOPLE'S THEATRE IN LONDON, AND OUR REPRESENTATIVE WAS PRESENT AT A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE GIVEN FOR AN INVITED AUDIENCE OF ABOUT 40 PEOPLE, MAINLY EDUCATIONISTS.
''THE PLAY, WHICH IS IMPROVISED BY A PROFESSIONAL THEATRE IN EDUCATION COMPANY, MAKES HIGHLY CONTENTIOUS STATEMENTS ABOUT LABOUR CONDITIONS IN HONGKONG AND APPEARS TO HAVE RELIED HEAVILY FOR ITS SOURCE MATERIAL ON A RECENT TELEVISION PROGRAMME AND NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ABOUT CHILD LABOUR IN THE TERRITORY, AND LEFT-WING PAMPHLETS.
•
''CRITICS OF THE PLAY HAVE POINTED OUT THAT IT HAS VERY LITTLE ARTISTIC MERIT BECAUSE OF THE ONE-SIDED NATURE OF THE CASE IT PRESENTS, AND FOR THIS REASON THEY SUESTION ITS EDUCATIONAL VALUE. THERE HAS ALSO SEEN CRITICISM OF THE PLAY'S STRONG LEFT-WING POLITICAL SLANT.
5.
''ALTHOUGH THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IS DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT SUCH A DISTORTED PICTURE OF CONDITIONS IN HONGKONG SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO SCHOOL CHILDREN, IN THE GUISE OF EDUCATION, ANY ACTION THAT WE MAY PROPOSE TO TAKE HAS TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF TWO IMPORTANT FACTS.
E. ''FIRST, WE UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN THE FINAL PERFORMANCE OF THE PLAY IS GIVEN TODAY, IT WILL HAVE BEEN SEEN BY ONLY
5.OR 30 CLASSES OF TEN-YEAR-OLDS. THE DAMAGE THAT THE PLAY HAS CAUSED - NOT LEAST, WE FEEL, TO THE REPUTATION OF EDUCATION IN LONDON - HAS THEREFORE BEEN LIMITED IN ITS
61
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.