FCO_49_622_PLANNING_PAPER_ON_HONG_KONG_1976 — Page 117

Page 117Page 117 of 203 Record of a meeting held in Government House Hong Kong at 9.30 a.m. on Friday, 21 May 1976

PRESENT:

H.E.

Mr. Cortazzi

CS

PA

PS/GH

With reference to the FCO draft

planning paper, H.E. said that apart from the

very many drafting points there were a

number of major misconceptions in the underlying

thinking:

2.

a) that the Governor was impeded by Officials

and Unofficials in his efforts to introduce

social reforms.

b) That the only barriers to higher taxes were

the over-orthodoxy of the Hong Kong Government

and selfishness of Unofficials

c) That social and fiscal progress could be

facilitated by introducing new grass-roots

members into the legislature

In disposing of these misconceptions

H.E. made the following points:

a) There was argument, disagreement and

compromise, but not obstruction. Once a

decision was taken the Government was united

and responsibility rested with the Governor

b) In the last 4 years Unofficials had not

resisted increases in taxation put to them.

They did block a dividend tax for alleged

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