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See (37) CONFIDENTIAL
30/1
HKK 430
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 2 3 MAY 1978
DESK OFFICER
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
Mr JM howlands Civil Service branch Covernment Secretariat EONG KONG
INDEX
No
19 May 1978
CHORTHANI AFT AL. 10 11
AL.IC
DIMUL
32
1. Thank you for your telegram 551 of hay giving information to help us rely to rank Dooley 's nd lord frockway's letter to lord coronwy-Roberts. have also seen the comments about this dispute in paragraphs 1-7 of your latest quarterly report.
2. i am afraid we must face the fact that this issue remains very much a matter for concern in this country and that that concern is not oing to diminish unless the numerous in's, Union Officials, etc., who have been recruited to LAA's cause can be satisfied that some sort of effort has been made to meet LASE half way. Une point that is constantly made in our discussions of the problem is that, despite all the hours of negotiations that have taken place, at no stage has a hint of a concession been offered by the Covernment side: the object always seems to have been simply to try to persuade LATA's members to accept the Government's point of view. It is probably this feeling that the hong kong Lovernment have been adopting a "take it or leave it" attitude that has done most to sustain the belief that SATA deserve support and sympathy. it also, I fear, provides ammunition for those who seek to discredit the liong Kong Government's attitude to labour relations generally.
3. We certainly do not disagree with the contention that this is essentially an internal affair, and that the solution must be seen to be the decision of the liong Kong Government, and not one imposed from London. Nonetheless, the solution must take account of the pressures that have been exerted, and continue to be exerted here, and I do not think it is sufficient to treat the dispute as a dead issue and simply wait for those who have not yet accepted the Govenment's proposals to do so.
CONFIDENTIAL
14.
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