TNAG-0788-FCO40-992-Development-of-social-policy-in-Hong-Kong-proposed-contribut-1978 — Page 258

LE MON

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Sir Murray MacLehose GBE KCMG KCVO HONG KONG

Dear Mummy.

THE GREEN PAPER ON SOCIAL SECURITY

London SW1A 2AH

1 February 1978

HKK 23+

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

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2 FER 778

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1. You will be well aware of the importance that is given here to your plans for developing social services in Hong Kong. You will remember that Lord Goronwy-Roberts dilated at some length on this point during your meeting with him in November. Since that meeting we have seen and studied the Green Paper setting out your Government's proposals for a programme of social security developments.

2. The Minister of State has now asked me to write to you to stress how much we welcome the programme and to hope that your Government will undertake an active campaign to obtain general community support for the scheme.

Needless to say,

we would regard it as a severe setback if the programme were to be abandoned, or watered down in any way through lack of interest.

In

3. The Minister of State has also asked me to say that while he agrees that the proposals in the Green Paper represent about as much as is practicable at this stage, we should not by any means regard it as the long term maximum to be aimed for. particular, he wants me to stress his hope that you will eventually be able to move to a non-means-tested unemployment benefit. We are also keen to see proper retirement benefits: paragraph 8.15 of the Green Paper makes some tentative suggestions about the beginnings of such a scheme,, but they are very much beginnings.

4.

•

While you were here you discussed the question of timing. At first sight the timetable set out in the final paragraph of the Green Paper looks disappointingly long. I realize there are practical difficulties over such things as training necessary staff. But we still hope the time can be reduced: if there is anything we can do to help speed up the process, for example by providing help in drafting legislation, please let me know.

Yours eve Donne

DF Murray

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