C.F. 323
CONFIDENTIAL
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(a)
(e)
and thus permit all apprehensions about it to die. It
may be that it will be possible for Hong Kong to achieve
a working relationship with China whereby it is understood
that Hong Kong can exist as a Chinese/British anomaly
under conditions acceptable to both sides.
These
possibilities are in order of preference as far as Hong Kong
is concerned.
It is appreciated also that, within Hong Kong itself, consent
and support for the Government does exist, and was slowly
being increased up to 1967. It is strongly believed that
the disturbances of this year have augmented and made more
urgent the need to retain and fortify the consent and
support of the local population as a political insurance
against attempts at subversion from within.
nature of communis, the strong appeal of "tung bao" and
the existence of many areas of social activity which lend themselves as targets for fomenting discontent, all these things importantly supplement the normal objectives of a
government which wishes to serve its population well.
It is a
The very
case of adding internal security to altruism as a
reason for affecting improved government.
While it is a considered view that eliminating the external threat is the primary need and that this cannot be eliminated
in current circumstances, it is held that within this limitation (Let's hope temporary limitation) efforts need
to be made to increase and fortify the support of the
population for the Government.
groups.
This can be done in two
Firstly by fresh improvements which are
perceptibly beneficial to people without being
transparently cheap political gestures for supports' sake.
Secondly by making sure that past, current and imminent improvements wrought by Government are part of people's
/consciousness
CONFIDENTIAL