CONFIDENTIAL
B
3.
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If there were a worthy individual in Hong Kong a British
subject
who merited the honour of a peerage, then the Governor
and the Secretary of State could no doubt invite the
Prime Minister to consider the matter. However, if a Hong Kong
worthy was given such an honour, other dependent territories
might well wish to see their own worthies similarly honoured,
whether for representational or prestige reasons. The only
precedent we have been able to identify of the creation of a
life peer from a dependent territory is Sir Learie Constantine,
who was created a Life Peer on his retirement to Britain.
We have not been able to assess with any certainty the
likely political reaction in Parliament. I attach, however, a
Conservative Party document dated March 1970 which recommends,
at the foot of page 4 and top of page 5, that the remaining
âependencies should be offered representation in the House of
Lords. This paper seems to give the idea some respectability,
but is perhaps too dated and of too imprecise status to be a
reliable guide to present opinion. If the proposal ever became
a starter, doubtless Mr Blaker would have views on the
Parliamentary reaction which might be expected.
Meanwhile one
might guess that there would be little adverse Parliamentary
reaction to the creation of a single life peer from Hong Kong;
but perhaps apprehension if life peerages from Dependent
Territories seemed likely to snowball.
5. As regards the probable Chinese reaction, Far Eastern
Department's view is that it would probably be limited to mild
/and amused
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CONFIDENTIAL