TNAG-0733-FCO40-937-Inquiries-on-democracy-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 40

GR 700

WIFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAS

FM FCO 0719552 NOV 70

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

کاکلیه

duals?

HKC with sugge

جكم

TELEGRAM NUMBER 827 OF 7 NOVEMBER

Mr

Inveray

The notes for

supplementaries are regative exp 1-5. Do

essive as

regative

we have Bobe as

LORD BROCKWAY HAS TABLED AN ORAL PQ FOR ANSWER ON 22 as this? Is NOVEMBER ASKING HMG QUOTE WHAT RESPONSE HAS BEEN MADE TO THE t wire

PROPOSALS MADE BY 3 ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL

IN HONG KONG THAT DEMOCRACRY SHOULD BE EXTENDED IN THE

COLONY BY

A) THE INCLUSION OF ELECTED MEMBERS IN THE LEGISLATURE: P) ADULT FRANCHISE FOR LONG STAY RESIDENTS:

C) THE PHASING OUT OF APPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE URDAN

COUNCIL AND

D) AN EXTENSION OF THE JURISDICTION OF THE URDAM COUNCIL TO INCLUDE HOUSING, EDUCATION, SOCIAL WELFARE AND TOWN PLANNING UNQUOTE.

زویه

2. THE REFERENCE IS TO A LETTER SENT LAST JUNE TO LORD CORONWY-ROBERTS BY MRS ELLIOT, DR HUANG, AND MR TSIN, APART FROM THE SPECIFIC POINTS IN THE QUESTION THE LETTER ARGUED THAT THE HONG KONG COVERNMENT RODE ROUGHSHOD OVER THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE: CRITICISED UMELCO AND THE CDO SCHEME AS INEFFECTIVE: SUGGESTED

THAT URBCO'S GENERAL EFFECTIVENESS WAS REDUCED BY

THE REMOVAL OF SOME OF ITS RESPONSIBILITIES IN 1973: REJECTED THE ARGUMENT THAT FURTHER STEPS TOWARDS DEMOCRACY WOULD DE UNACCEPTABLE TO THE CHINESE AND COMPARED HONG KONG WITH MACAU

WHERE A GREATER DEGREE OF DEMOCRACY HAD BEEN INTRODUCED.

3. IN HIS REPLY LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS CONFIRMED THAT HMG SHARED THE WRITERS' CONCERN THAT HONG KONG DE ADMINISTERED IN THE INTERESTS OF ALL WHO LIVE THERE. HE MADE CLEAR THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE APPROPRIATE MOVES MADE AT THE RIGHT TIME TOWARDS A MORE REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM, BUT STRESSED THE NEED FOR CAUTION AND EMPHASISED THAT THE MAINTENANCE OF CONFIDENCE WAS A MAJOR CONCERN. HE REJECTED THE ALLEGATION THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IGNORED THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE.

bra WE REGRET THAT THIS EXCHANGE WAS APPARENTLY NOT COPIED TO YOU

AT THE TIME. COPIES HAVE NOW BEEN SENT BY AIR MAIL.

CONFIDENTIAL

/S. NE