TNAG-0936-FCO40-1155-Visit-of-Norman-Fowler--Minister-of-Transport--to-Hong-Kong--1980 — Page 69

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There are few organised political groups in Hong Kong. small, quasi-political organisations contest the Urban Council. elections, but they are really no more than pressure groups and their membership is limited to a small number of mainly middle-class end expatriates with no particular idcological background.

10. By far the most significant political presence in Hong Kong is tha the Communist Chinese. There are a number of overt Communist organisations including trade unions with a total membership of some 200,000 and Communist schools with some 33,000 pupils. They are tightly disciplined and controlled by the local party organisation appointed by Peking (of which the head is the Director of the local New China News Agency office). These organisations have not attempted to play a direct role in Hong Kong's political affairs. While it remains the policy of Peking to maintain the stability, and prosperity of Hong Kong, the Chinese Communist organisations in the territory can be relied on not to undermine government policies.

11. The activities of the Chinese Nationalists parallel those of the Communists but on a smaller, and diminishing, scale.

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