CONFIDENTIAL
the
section of this community regard Hong Kong as
no more than a place which offers them, tempor-
arily, a less beggarly form of existence than
they would suffer in China; whilst the more
affluent ones look upon it simply as a place
with a stable and impartial administration
which interferes as little as possible in their
efforts to make the maximum amount of money
in the shortest space of time.
sit-
uation would hardly be likely to present strong
reasons for wishing to change the existing
order of things.
On the other ha.
However, I find it difficult
to accept that in a territory with Hong Kong's
ingenuity, initiative and dynamisme people of integrity ability
and indepent outtock
do not exist in greater numbers than we have
x
been led to believe even if they may be largelf
-confined to the expatriate community,
9. In any event I see little prospect of
bringing about any substantial changes, at
this juncture, in the membership of the Exec-
utive and Legislative Councils. I would,
however, recommend that the whole matter be discussed with the next Governor of Hong Kong, in good time, before he assumes office.
CONFIDENTIAL
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