417259) D4.397452
(16541) D4397300 250m 1/72 G..DL. GR.13
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Com a 1UAL AJANJ
is the channel to HMG for the hopes and aspirations of
the four million people of Hong Kong who look to us to
fulfil the wording of Article 73 of the UN Charter that
as an administering power we should recognise the
interests of the peoples of our dependent territories
as paramount. While we obviously cannot ignore our own
direct interests, it seems to me that we must accept
the responsibility of striking a fair balance between
them and those of Hong Kong wherever there may be a
conflict.
4.
We have in the present Governor a man who knows
Whitehall better than any of his predecessors, who
understands our position, and who does not make demands
of us except when the substantial interests of Hong Kong
are involved. We should help him where we can. The
difficulty is that the issues which arise may well
affect only one of our several Departments, and in each
particular case there may seen an irrefutable case for
pursuing the narrow United Kingdom interest. But when
several such issues arise at the same time, each perhapa
not of overriding importance in itself, the cumulabivo
effect can seriously damage confidence in our admini-
stration and thus our underlying interest in the good
government of Hong Kong.
5.
There is at the moment a number of problema :11
of which may have to be resolved at mich the amm
We may find ourselves deciding on courses of nebion at
of which are opposed by the Government of Hong Kong
and/or by public opinion there. The most vital of th
avg
from both our points of view - in the Sterling:
Guarantee Agreement.
The Chancellor's recent und
CONFIDENTIAL