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HKK 22/5
Defensive
CONFIDENT IAL
2
21/2
Brief No
Secretary of State's Visit to Hong Kong
PINK!
February, 1972
Relations between Hong Kong and the United Kingdom
Points to be made indiscussing with Uaffect
Men by
Exeeding and Елилий and Legislative By By any normal standards the people of
Hong Kong would be well able to manage
their own affairs. At the same time
informed opinion in the Colony realises
that because of China there can be no
progress towards self-government, with
all that that would involve.
(2) The Secretary of State has a constitutional
responsibility to Parliament for the
administration of Hong Kong. Although
Le
he has no desire whatever to intervene
unnecessarily in the affairs of the
Colony he cannot ignore this responsibility;
nor can be deny Members of Parliament
their right to interest themselves in
Hong Kong's affairs. Indeed many Members
of Parliament have the interests of
Hong Kong very much at heart.
(3) This aftution fundrais
/sit
understandably proves
irksome to Hong Kong at times particularly
when HMG takes decisions which in Hong
Kong eyes appear to be against the
Colony's best interests, or even to
favour the interests of Britain to the
detriment of those of Hong Kong.
ヨ
Kongj
but it cannot be accepted that the
CONFIDENT IAL
/situation...
(885363) Dd. 896639 1,000м 8/71 St.S.
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