SECRET
3. Mr Callahan said he took note, particularly about the need for the Gurkhas. But Hong Kong would have to pay a greater proportion of the overall costs. He was not ruling out a continuation of the Hong Kong garrison, but the UK faced a decline in its standard of living and there could be no increase in public expenditure.
Hong Kong and the ELC
4.
Sir Murray MacLehose said that Mr Callaghan's statement on 4 June was very much welcomed in Hong Kong. Mr Callaghan replied that HMG would continue to insist on eliminating discrimination against our own Colony.
A Chinese Representative in Hong Kon
5. Mr Calla han said that he was content to leave
The time being. In could be dismosed the present policy undisturbed for later dise asion, perheps when the Governor returned to the UK towards the end of the year.
Death Sentences
6. Sir Murray MacLehose said that this was a point of major importance in Hong Kong. He must advise that, from the point of view of Hong Kong, the Creech Jones formula of backing for the Governor's decision should be reaffirmed. He accepted that this was a question of great difficulty for British Ministers. His informal understanding with Executive Council had so far enabled reprieves to be agreed within Hong Kong. But he was not certain that this understanding would hold.
7.
Im Vo Mr Callahan replied that if he had tojdes
to jdefend
a Hong Kong execution in Parliament, he would not have a majority. Since Hong Kong was a Colony, there was no alternative but to accept this overriding fact. The situation might change, but for the moment UK Ministers would not be able to let an execution take place in Hong Kong. He agreed that the Governor might tell his Executive Council is in confidence lhat this was the position. 8. If Hong Kong had had an elected government, it would have been easier to defend their decision to
carry out an execution. But a referendum would not be enough, since it would not remove the Secretary of
SECRET
/State's
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN