TNAG-0733-FCO40-937-Inquiries-on-democracy-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 43

CONFIDENTIAL

Sae 39

8

ON 700

CASEIDENTIAL

FR FCC 071955Z NOV 78

HKKD" / 8

*0.

Ө

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 827 OF 7 NOVEMBER

BY LORD BROCKWAY

ORAL PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION

1.

PA

tio

LORD BROCKWAY HAS TABLED A ORAL PQ FOR ANSAR UN 22" NOVEMBER ASKING HMG QUOTE WHAT RESPONSE HAS BEEN MADE TO THE PROPOSALS MADE LY 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: B) ADULT FRANCHISE FOR LONG STAY RESIDENTS:

C) THE PRASING OUT OF APPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE URBAN

COUNCIL AND

D) AN EXTENSION OF THE JURISDICTION OF THE URBAN COUNCIL

TO INCLUDE HOUSING, EDUCATION, SOCIAL WELFARE AND TOWN PLANNING

UNQUOTE.

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 GOVERNMENT RODE ROUGHSHOD OVER THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE:

CRITICISED UMELCO AND THE CDO SCHEME AS INEFFECTIVE: SUSGESTED

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 BE UNACCEPTABLE TO THE CHINESE AND COMPARED HONG KONG WITH MACAU

WHERE A CREATER DEGREE OF DEMOCRACY HAD BEEN INTRODUCED.

3.

IN HIS REPLY LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS CONFIRMED THAT HMG SHARED THE WRITERS? CONCERN THAT HONG KONG BE 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.

WE REGRET THAT THIS EXCHANGE WAS APPARENTLY NOT COPIED TO YOU

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

CONFIDENTIAL

15. NE.