TNAG-0674-FCO40-823-Policy-on-supply-of-land-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 13

Mr Murrey

fary

Parliamentary Unit

CONFIDENTIAL

RE

61

20 JUN 1977

HKKK 365/5

HONG KONG: PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION MR A P COSTAIN MP

Folkestone & Hythe) has

1. Mr A P Costain MP (Conservative put down a Written Question for Answer on 15 June asking the Secretary of State what steps are being taken to increase the supply of land in Hong Kong.

Attached?.

Flag A

HKK 380/3 (ORAL). 14761

AND HKK 173/1

3

Flag B

This is the second PQ concerning Hong Kong put down by Mr Costain this year: the first, on trends in the Hong Kong crime rate, was answered on 2 March. Last year Mr Costain put down three Questions on drugs and two on the Mass Transit Railway. He is the Treasurer of the Anglo/Hong Kong Parliamentary Group and takes a benevolent interest in Hong Kong's affairs. Hong Kong press has recently carried reports about the Hong Kong Government's plans for increasing the supply of land: these reports may well have prompted Mr Costain's Question. Hong Kong Government's plans mainly involve increasing the supply of land by means of reclamation rather than by compulsory acquisition.

The

The

3. I submit a draft reply based on information received from Hong Kong (telegram no. 587 of 13 June).

MOD concur.

14 June 1977

cc:

PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts

Mr Cortazzi

Major D Parkinson (DS6 MOD)

for

A. F. Millon

J A B Stewart

Hong Kong & General Dept

now

See

for

Folio P/A.

5

CONFIDENTIAL

4