Our reference: G/T Your reference:
RESTRICTED
BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION IN HONG KONG 7th Floor, Shell House, Queen's Road, Central, HONG KONG Mail Address: P.O. Box No. 528, Hong Kong
Lear Geome
Cable Address: "Uktrade Hongkong"
4
Telephone: 230176
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18 December, 1968.
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resubmit.
Although I was duly warned before leaving London I have been surprised, and slightly dismayed, at the volume of criticism in Hong Kong directed against Britain.
2. For the most part the criticism is directed against Britain's economic record and the reputed reluctance of her labour force to do a genuine day's work. Regarding the latter I, and I suspect many other posts, would welcome more detailed facts and figures than appear to be available to us at present of Britain's strike record vis-a-vis our main trading competitors.
3. The main purpose of this letter, however, is to seek your aid on two points which are of particular interest to Hong Kong, although the first may have regional overtones. The first concerns the contribution which Hong Kong has to pay towards the maintenance of the British garrison here. The commonly heard argument here is that the security of Hong Kong is the responsibility of the British Government and that the local taxpayer should either make a smaller contribution than he is being required to do at present, or make no contribution at all. It is also suggested (a) that the garrison serves no useful purpose since it could not defend Hong Kong against a serious attack from China and (b) that Hong Kong is being used as a base to maintain Gurkha mercenaries at Hong Kong's expense. I enclose two recent newspaper editorials on the subject. The Hong Kong Standard is one of the two English language morning newspapers, and is read by most people of influence in the Colony. Sing Tao Man Po is the Chinese newspaper with the largest circulation.
4.
The second point concerns the Hong Kong Government's application to E.C.G.D. for assistance over the extension to the runway at Kai Tak Airport. There was a great hullabaloo shortly after my arrival here
G.S. Littlejohn-Cook, Esq.,
Guidance Department,
Foreign & Commonwealth Office, King Charles Street,
London, S.W.1.
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RESTRICTED
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31
27 JAN 1969
HKR6/548/3
Every effort is made to ensure that the information given herein is accurate, but no legal responsibility is accepted for any errors or omis. sions in that information and no responsibility is accepted in regard to the standing of any firms, companies, or individuals mentioned.