CONFIDENTIAL
5. This is important because of Hong Kong's
dependence on confidence. Without a political future
of their own, they depend totally on the British
connection, and are correspondingly wary of our
intentions.
6.
I therefore believe that we must continue to
eliminate points of friction as they arise, even at
some cost to our own direct interests. We look to
the Governor to ensure that our actions are
interpreted so as to improve rather than worsen
our image in Hong Kong. But we must be guided by him
on the extent to which this is possible without
destroying his own credibility.
to agree.
I invite my colleagues