Secrets of the MacLehose era

HONG KONG'S history is not a subject many people get excited about. But as the British plan to withdraw, writers have begun to examine the British legacy more closely. Despite Governor Chris Patten's attempts to make the Government more open, much of the territory's history remains shrouded in secrecy.

As a result, the public interpretation or perception of events is often wrong, and this error is carried into print by researchers who are denied access to the official documents.

It is widely believed in Hong Kong, at least by those who have thought about it, that Murray MacLehose came to Hong Kong in 1971 with some decidedly socialist leanings and immediately began reforming the place to make it, if not more democratic then at least a more pleasant place to live. They believe that he was personally responsible for many of the changes that took place during the 70s.

His supporters point out that shortly after arriving in Hong Kong, MacLehose announced an ambitious plan to re-house 1.8 million people in 10 years. During his first eight years in office, spending on social welfare increased nearly 20-fold. He extended free education from six to nine years and got the Legislative Council to approve funds to build swimming pools, running tracks, sports stadiums, auditoriums, concert halls, cultural centres and a planetarium.

The secrecy of Hong Kong is such that even low level civil servants were in the dark about what was really going on. Many resented MacLehose because he was the first governor chosen from the ranks of Foreign Office diplomats instead of from the ranks of the colonial service, which was fast disappearing.

They dubbed him 'Murray in a Hurry' and some less flattering names because of the sweeping changes he allegedly proposed.