(562
From.....
(64).
Commissioner, London Office
LO/ASS/1997 AG
MEMO
To.......................
Secretary for Home Affairs
Ref.
in.
01-499 9821 ext 60
Tel. No.
Your Ref................. in.
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
Date
14 September 1983
dated
MKK0401
16 SEP 1983.......................
REGISTRY
A.F. 73A
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
Exchange with Alfred CHAN
m
re 1997 Action Group
KM126/9
On 12.9.83, the Provost of Dunfermline in Scotland hosted a special reception in celebration of a Hong Kong Chinese being the first ever Chinese to be appointed a Justice of the Peace in UK. Apart from our staff from the Edinburgh Sub-office, the head of our Liaison Division and the Assistant Commissioner, Headquarters attended to represent this office.
2. Amongst the guests were Alfred CHAN of the 1997 Action Group and his wife. Naturally, the opportunity was taken to try and find out the latest on the Action Group.
3.
We had earlier reported vide' LOFAX 339 of 31.5.83 that S T CHAU was quitting the Chairmanship of the Group and emigrating to Australia. We now understand that his papers have yet to be released and so, whilst his belongings have all been shipped, he is in London still waiting for clearance from the Australian authorities. In these circumstances, it would be fair to assume that S T CHAU would not be deeply involved or even be much interested in the activities of the Group.
4.
In his conversation with Assistant Commissioner, Headquarters, it was difficult to tell whether Alfred CHAN spoke for himself only or for the Group. However, what was said may have some interest to you.
5. As a result of his visit not so long ago to Hong Kong, he could see that there was little the Group could do in Hong Kong; that he had been impressed by Hong Kong's achieve- ments in housing; but that there was a number of problems facing Hong Kong. He thought that there was insufficient "democracy" and that "Hong Kong Government ought to be doing something" to improve education in Hong Kong. He was pressed to elaborate on these points and at the same time the following comments were made to him :
(a) re "democracy"
Hong Kong has progressively evolved arrangements for community participation in administration and the results of recent elections to District Boards and Urban Council speak for themselves.
(Alfred CHAN conceded).
.../ (b) re "education"
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