TNAG-0937-FCO40-1156-Visits-of-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-th-1980 — Page 189

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BACKGROUND NOTE

PQ: HONG KONG: MR DENNIS CANAVAN MP

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1. Mr Canavan was one of a group of three Labour MPs who visited Hong Kong in September under the sponsorship of various Hong Kong pressure groups. On his return, he wrote an article on Hong Kong which was published in the "Scotsman" on 17 October, and which gives a good idea of the subjects which particularly concerned him during his visit (a reply by the Hong Kong Commissioner in London to Mr Canavan's article was published in the same newspaper on 24 October).

2.

While in Hong Kong, the three MPs had a meeting with the Governor

at which they raised a number of issues which had come up during

their visit. A detailed reply to all the points they had raised was

The forwarded to them by the Hong Kong Commissioner on 26 October. UKKOZETO 19)

subjects which, on the basis of this evidence, Mr Canavan seems most likely to raise in supplementaries include the following:

Democratic Reform in Hong Kong

3.

One of the principal sponsors of Mr Canavan's visit was Mrs Elsie Elliott, an elected member of the Hong Kong Urban Council, who has been leading a campaign for reform of the Council, in particular by:

(i) extending the present very limited franchise;

(ii) phasing out appointed members, who at present constitute half

of the Council;

(iii) giving the Council wider powers.

4. Mrs Elliott and her colleagues also want to see the introduction of elected members to the Hong Kong Legislative Council.

5. Mrs Elliott led a delegation to London in November to press for these reforms. They were seen by Mr Blaker, who undertook to consider the proposals and send a reply in due course. Mr Blaker will be dis- cussing the subject further with the Governor on 11 January, but we expect that the Governor will wish to reflect further before giving his advice on the reply that should be sent to the Urban Councillors.

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