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CONFIDENTIAL
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1. Understandably HKIOD have always been very conscious of the ambivalence and sensitivity of the Governor's position as both Head of the Hong Kong Government and at the same time HM's Representative. In consequence they have tended to seek to confine, the information activities of the Trade Commission to the relatively safe area of trade promotion.
2. GIPD on the other hand has all along considered that since the HK Government Information Service was concerned solely with projecting and explaining the policies and views of the Hong Kong Government our Trade Commission should in addition to its trade promotional function act as a spokesman and publicist for Britain except, in deference to the Governor's dual role, on questions in dispute between HMG and the Hong Kong Government where the Governor's own judgment and HMG's policy considerations would need to be carefully balanced. It is in this "grey" area however that most of the trouble is now occurring and where a positive British voice is now lacking.
3.
It is not, I am sure, generally understood in Hong Kong, Britain or anywhere else just how self governing and independent of Britain Hong Kong really is or the extent to which in those few areas where we hold reserved powers (eg defence, foreign affairs) they are more theoretical than real. Even if the Governor felt unable to use the HK Government Information Service to explain the true facts of life locally for fear of undermining his position (though it is arguable that it is perhaps being undermined already by the present criticism), it might be a step in the right direction to try to make sure that the true position is known outside Hong Kong. help in this.
GIPD and IRD could
14 November 1973
B Spencer