D
Mr Guest
CONFIDENTIAL
DR S Y CHUNG'S PROPOSAL ON LIFE PEERAGES FOR HONG KONG
1. I agree that the reply should be confined to the point
that Dr Chung's ideas have been noted with interest, and thus
concur in the draft. I suppose it is possible that Dr Chung
might mention the idea again during the Prime Minister's
visit. It might therefore be worth the Department giving some
thought to the questions which the proposal might raise. For
example:
(a) Would it be constitutionally practicable under the Life
Peerages Act?
(b)
(c)
What would be the likely political reaction in Parliament?
Could it be done for Hong Kong alone or would it have to
include all dependent territories?
(a)
2.
Would they
What would the Chinese in Peking think of it?
read into it some sinister intention or regard it as a
trial balloon to test their reaction to the possibility
of the eventual incorporation of Hong Kong into some
federal relationship with the UK?
I suspect the conclusion would be that, although the idea
has its attractions, it would raise both constitutional and
political problems in this country.
28 November 1973
Copies to:
Sir Duncan Watson
Gibraltar & General Department
Hong Kong Department
Mr Wilford
CONFIDENTIAL
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