SECRET
12.
THE OPPOSITION I AM FACING IS REALLY NOT SO VERY MUCH WORSE
THAN I HAD EXPECTED, AND DERIVES IN MY VIEW FROM:~
(A) GENUINE AND DEEPLY FELT OBJECTION TO THE PRINCIPLE OF DEFENCE
CONTRIBUTION SEMICOLON
(B) OBJECTION TO THE SIZE OF THE INCREASE IN THE LIGHT OF HONG
KONG'S OTHER COMMITTMENTS SEMICOLON
(C) FEAR OF THE RAEACTIONS OF THE PUBLIC AND THE CAPITAL THE COMMUNISTS AND OTHER DISSIDENTS WILL MAKE OF IT SEMICOLON
INCLUDING FEARS FOR THEIR OWN PUBLIC REPUTATIONS IF THEY AGREE
TO A LARGE INCREASE SEMICOLON
(D) THE RESENTMENT WHICH HAS ACCUMULATED OVER THE PAST 15-23 YEARS, AND MCRE ESPECIALLY
IN THE LAST 8 YEARS OR SO, OVER ACTIONS BY HMG OF VARIOUS KINDS VHICH HAVE APPREARED LOCALLY TO CONSTITUTE A DISREGARD FOR HONG KONG'S NEEDS, RIGHTS AND VITAL INTERESTS.
11.
WHETHER OR NOT (D) IS JUSTIFIED, YOU WILL RECALL THAT I HAVE GIVEN MANY WARNINGS OF THE GROWTH OF THIS FEELING IN MANY
DISCUSSIONS, AND URGED THAT MORE BE DONE TO COUNTERACT IT.
12. NEVERTHELESS, I HAVE NOT ENTIRELY GIVEN UP HOPE OF SCME
AGREEMENT AT SOME REASONABLY ENHANCED SUM, IT WILL TAKE TIME TO
REACH IT, HOWEVER, AND EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IS ONLY THE FIRST
CBSTACLE.
13. IS IT BETTER FOR ME TO TELEGRAPH PERSONALLY IN THIS MANNER,
OR WOULD YOU PREFER ME TO ADDRESS TELEGRAMS IN THE NORMAL MANNER?
TRENCH
FILES
HKD
FED
DEFENCE DEPT
PS
PS/TUS
BIR I MONSON
SIR S TOMLINSON
MR WILFORD
MR D.A.SCOTT
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