TNAG-1014-FCO40-1264-HM-Government-s-responsibility-for-internal-affairs-in-Hong--1981 — Page 27

CONFIDENTIAL

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SCOPG should remain in being as a convenient forum for the exchange of views and the collation of information. Whilst it may not be necessary for it to meet very frequently, it would meet on a more or less regular "nais or at the request of C.S.C. rith no change necessary to its existing terms of referece at Amex A, One of the main practical values of the establishment of SCOPG has been the 1 rge amount of information on pressure groups that has been assembled. It is recommended that SCOPG continue as the contral repository for such information and periodic reports: it would thus become a useful point of reference for those departments who have direct dealings with pressure groups. As a matter of course the report and assessment at Armox C on important pressuro groups should be rogul rly up-dated, probably at half-yearly intervals.

42.

1

It is debatable whether SCOPG should in future be housed in the Information Branch or the Home Affairs Branch. Since most of the activities of pressure groups mnifest themselves in unvclcome publicity, calling for a quick information response from Government, it could be argued that the co- ordinating responsibility should rest with the Information Branch. However, since public relations are not the only consideration in counteracting pressure group activities, it is felt that, at least for the time being, SCOPG should continue to rest with Home Affairs Branch, the policy branch for community building. Hembership would rennin as at present, with the addition of a representative of Secretary for Information.

Sumry of Recommendations

43.

It must be accepted that pressure groups will romain with us and overall the best answer to their criticism is an opon and responsive and effective Government. Briefly summarised below are some of the more specific recommendations made by SCOFG :

(a) Government should not be complacent over its

achievements but should keep its programmes up te date and refined to meet the rising expectations of the community (pars. 29);

(c)

Government publicity, both aggressive hard-sell and more subtle soft-soll, must continue to play a vital part in explaining policies and programmes, to build up a permanent background of an effective but humen Government (para. 31);

Departments should deal directly and quickly with pressure groups; in so doing they should put such groups into perspective and avoid over- roacting and deliberate confrontation; whilst requests for information and intervious should be entertained as far as possible (peras. 30-35);

/(a)

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CONFIDENTIAL