NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
CONFIDENTIAL
put forward.
6.
Meanwhile the Overseas Development Administration
(ODA) are very ready to place at Hong Kong's
disposal the advice and recommendations of their
technical advisers who visit the Colony from time
to time. The ODA also finance a small scheme
for the training of students in Britain (about
£32,000 a year); and they are actively engaged
in recruiting technical personnel for employment
by the Hong Kong Government.
7. Hong Kong tends to grumble about
neglect
and to argue that Britain has a "moral obligation"
towards the Colony and that something is needed to
bring home to the people that Hong Kong is a
British Crown Colony for which HMG have a special
regard.
8. In public and with the Unofficial Members of
the Executive and Legislative Councils it would
be best if the Secretary of State could confine himself to the formula set out in paragraph .5.
above.
However, with the Governor and his official
British advisers it is recommended that the
Secretary of State should take the opportunity to
explore the idea of British aid being used more
extensively to further UK commercial and industrial
interests. For example, it should be possible to
work out arrangements in connection with the mass
transit scheme which would benefit both Britain
and Hong Kong→
3.
CONFIDENT IAL