PS/Mr. Royle
CONFIDENTIAL
Hong Kong
In the course of a telegram on other matters dated 3 August, Sir Murray MacLehose made some general comments about relations between HMG and Hong Kong. Rather than circulate all the telegrams on the other matter which is classified top secret, I give below the relevant paragraphs.
"The bowling has been rough recently, both bodyline and spin, and I would indeed welcome an opportunity to have a talk with you before I return to Hong Kong on 15 September. But I certainly hope it will not be necessary to break into your holiday.
I foresee a situation this autumn or winter in which my parishioners here are going to be at loggerheads with the U.K. over death sentences, sterling balances, and immigration. It is not an inviting prospect. I realise these things all stem from political or economic imperatives in the U.K. which there is virtually no way round. Nevertheless it does prompt me to wonder whether the time has not come for some fresh thinking about what the U.K. relationship with a place like Hong Kong really should be, and what the mutual obligations and restrictions should be. I am not at all clear about this myself, but I hope that some thought might be given to it in the Office."
c.c.
Mr. Crowson (HKIOD)
(P. H. Grattan)
6 August, 1973
CONFIDENTIAL