TNAG-1025-FCO40-1275-Visit-by-Lord-Carrington--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-1981 — Page 27

Sir E Youde

CONFIDENTIAL

ENTIAL

AKK 02612

RECITTED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

2 7 MAR 1981

DEK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

сли

$27.3.

REGISTRY

Action Taken

59

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG:

58

PRESSURE GROUPS

1. Hong Kong Telegram No 329 (attached) mentions possible protests by pressure groups during Lord Carrington's visit. You may wish to know the background.

Wanderers' Association

2.

This is a group of former illegal immigrants opposed to the Hong Kong Government's policy of repatriation. They argue against this policy on human rights grounds and claim that illegal immigrants are refugees from persecution in China where they suffer harsh treatment on being returned there. These claims are unfounded and the Wanderers have received very little support in Hong Kong. They came to London earlier in the year to lobby MPs but aroused no Parliamentary or press interest. The Association is believed to be Taiwan-backed.

Association for Democracy

3.

This is a new pressure group which says it will campaign for wider democratic reform in Hong Kong than is offered in the proposals on District Administration. It is to be led by Urban Councillor Mr Tsin Sai-nin and has the support of some left-wing Labour MPs.

4.

The Association may also raise the Public Order Ordinance which has been amended and will come into effect in its new form in May. The MPS have described the ordinance as a 'Draconian' measure. Our answer to this is that all societies need some form of legislation to uphold public order.

Chuk Yuen Clearance

5. Mr McLaren already has details of this group. Briefly, they are workshop operators and shop owners whose premises are being cleared to make way for a new housing estate. They have complained about the terms of reprovisioning and compensation which have been offered, and that they were not given adequate notice of the clearance. They have, in fact, been treated fairly and legally by the Hong Kong Government. Our line is that we see no reason to intervene in what is essentially an internal Hong Kong matter.

26 March 1981

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Mr McLaren FED

Mr Fenn News Department PS

Morricc

P Morrice

Hong Kong & General Department

CONFIDENTIAL