CONFIDENTIAL
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Flág H
(4)
5.
The only multilateral question which Sir Y K Kan may raise
is the question of a Chinese Representative. This would have been
raised by the Chinese Government with the Prime Minister if he had
gone to Peking, and unofficial members of Executive and Legislative
Councils (UMELCO) would have demanded reassurance on his subsequent
visit to Hong Kong. If asked Mr Blaker could reassure Sir Y K Kan
that there has been no change in our policy. This policy is set
out in an aide-mémoire which the Secretary of State gave to
Chi P'eng-ei in June 1973.
General Line to Take
6.
Mr Blaker has only recently taken over responsibility for
Hong Kong and will have to bring himself up to date on the complex
bring
of our bilateral relationships. There have clearly been difficulties and these continue. But underlying this is HMG's general support
2
But
for Hong Kong. A recent example is the arrangements we have been
able to make to help to assure Hong Kong's supplies of oil from
Saudi Arabia And even where we have not achieved everything that
Hong Kong would like, such as on GSP, there have been good reasons
for this, which Britain's friends in Hong Kong should respect.
Members of Executive Council are frank with us when they believe that
Britain should do more for Hong Kong. We expect this. But it is in
there are also good reasons for Hong Kong's interest that they should understand the actions of the
British Government, and should be ready to explain and defend them
in public and in private.
11 January 1974
Сс
Sir D Watson
ACSE
A C Stuart
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean
Department