the proosss by which policies and decisions are
formed in Hong Kong. These are the people into whon
we have to instil some sense of reality. I attach
as Annex *}' a piece that, if substituted for
paragraph 8 in the talking points for use with
the public, would serve the purpose for this more
knowledgeable gathering.
4.
Finally, talking points for use with
Govornor and Officials. The general points
provide a satisfactory introduction, on the assump-
tion that by the time you arrive in Hong Kong the
Governor will have been fully informed about the
visits to the Community capitals. (This lattor
point we have checked with Western Economic Dept.
and understand that a full sccount is being
prepared and will issue shortly.) Bat we feel some
concern that the special Hong Kong points as
drafted should be so narrow in scope, concentrating
as they do on cotton textiles. We have re-drafted
this section (Annex *c*) to make the paints about
(a) the virtual certainty that Hong Kong would have
to compete in Britain over the Common External
Tariff, and (b) the dangers if an E.E.C. common
commercial policy were to follow a restrictionist
line.
5.
In conclusion I would like to emphasise
one point regarding brief's prepared for the S. of
S's use in Hong Kong, in case it was not brought
to your notice (it was made by Carter to Blair).
Copies of briefs have not been sent to the
Governor: it was never the Colonial Office practice
to do so. The reason is that we must regard and
treat the Governor as the head of a separate
Government, upholding and speaking for the interests
of the Colony as these are conceived locally. This
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