CONFIDENTIA
loss of face are minimised
of the Colony.
consistent with the security
7. I deal below briefly with the principal subjects which
have been brought to my attention during this period of
briefing.
8.
Chinese Representation in Hong Kong
Unless and until we are prepared to contemplate
changing the status of Hong Kong, the golden rule should
be to have the minimum of contact with the Chinese about
it which necessity requires.
9.
Necessity requires:
(a)
(b)
arrangements about the practical local things
listed in Mr Wilford's minute. These are all
handled locally through tolerably well-established,
if diverse, channels. In so far as these channels
from time to time do not cope with specific problems,
it is usually the problems or the prevailing
Chinese mood which causes the trouble rather than
the channel. So far as I am aware, the Chinese
have never complained that their interests suffer
from the channels they are obliged to use;
contacts with the Chinese Mission in London and
with the MFA in Peking about matters of principle
and policy or about local matters which local
Hong Kong channels are unable to deal with for
one reason or another.
10. This balancing of contacts between semi- or unofficial
/tuyeaux
3. CONFIDENTIAL