TNAG-1230-FCO40-1543-Visit-by-Richard-Luce--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Com-1983 — Page 41

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MEETING WITH EXCO (27 SEPTEMBER)

9.

As from 1 September there are 5 Official and 11 Unofficial

Members of the Executive Council (see Annex B). Mr Luce will be

expected to discuss the current state of the talks with the Chinese.

A speaking note and supplementaries are in Brief No 2. The Department will telegraph HMG's assessment of the talks on 22/23

September to reach Hong Kong as soon as possible.

LUNCH WITH BUSINESSMEN: 27 SEPTEMBER

10. This will be hosted by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce

(Chairman: Mr John Marden). Mr Luce will not be expected to make a

speech. The businessmen are likely to question Mr Luce closely on

the future (see Brief No 2). See also Brief No 5 on commercial

opportunities.

MEETING WITH THE HEUNG YEE KUK: 27 SEPTEMBER

11. The Heung Yee Kuk is a statutory advisory body for the New

Territories. It comprises the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the 27

Rural Committees in the New Territories, plus some special members

elected by these. The Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of Rural Committees

are elected by the Village representatives in the area covered by the Committee; these representatives are themselves elected by villagers

who can trace their descent from families living in the New

Territories at the time of the British takeover in 1898. The Kuk is

therefore representative of the traditional New Territories, and is

more influential in the rural areas than in the developing new towns.

It has a particular interest in land policy, and often considers

itself to have a special relationship with the Chinese authorities on

the grounds that the New Territories is only leased from China. Some

members of the Kuk, including the present and two former Chairmen,

visited China earlier this year and met the late Liao Cheng-zhi among

other Chinese leaders.

DRINKS WITH URBAN COUNCIL: 27 SEPTEMBER

12.

The Urban Council (URBCO) is the only body participating in the Government of Hong Kong that consists entirely of members of the

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