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CONFIDENTIAL
Hong Kong for the Scandinavian airline SAS is also
making progress; as is the scheme, not mentioned in
my minute, for a separate register of shipping for
Hong Kong. We are still in the running for the
important Mass Transit project. The Anglo-Italian
consortium has submitted its bid. We have not had to
face the question how far it is politically acceptable
for the UK to lose the contract to the Japanese.
Our aim is to prevent this arising.
3.
Other questions are still under study or
awaiting new developments.
On the death penalty we
await the first case in which the Governor decides
that the law must take its course. This may come
soon. We are still examining with the Home Office
whether any changes can be made in the Fugitive
Offenders Act. The question is important to Hong
Kong because of their anti-corruption drive.
4. My September minute was concerned with the
cumulative effect of these points of conflict on the
general position and image of Britain in Hong Kong.
Presentation is therefore important. But we cannot
mount a propaganda drive in Hong Kong which appears
to bring us in conflict with the Hong Kong Government.
The Governor remains the Queen's representative.
We have to look to him and his Government's
information services to present the resolution of each
problem as it arises in the best possible light. This
is not easy for B-ritish officials who have to look
to their own credibility in Hong Kong. Good
personal relations between London and Hong Kong help.
But there is still an undercurrent of distrust and
misunderstanding.
/5..
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