SECRET
香港總督府
GOVERNMENT HOUSE
HONG KONG
на
14+
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No. 51
30th May 1974
Sir,
- 5 JUN 1974
HKKID/2
In my despatch of 4.1.74 I wrote that I
believed the time had come to re-examine the arguments for and against constitutional change in Hong Kong. This despatch sets out my recommendations and my views on the whole problem, as a basis for discussion.
2.
What is
The constitution of Hong Kong is archaic and looks very odd to visitors from England. not so generally recognized is how odd the local situation is that has produced it - or rather failed to produce anything else. Constitutional advance in Colonies has normally been made in response to a demand for self-government by local parties and with the object of achieving a viable administration which might assume power upon independence. There has been an obvious and popular goal independence or self- government and at least one political party with sufficient support available to work towards it. But in Hong Kong neither of these elements exist. On the contrary any hint of independence would be completely unacceptable to the Chinese People's Government (CPG) and though there are various groups and centres of influence in Hong Kong there is nothing approaching a political party except for the Communist party of China and the Kuomintang, both of which would be equally unsuitable as a basis for more democratic government. Moreover if the latent split in Hong Kong between the pro and anti-communist sympathisers were to become overt in an election, the situation created would be intolerable.
3.
The present traditional form of government is well understood and is accepted here, and I believe we could perfectly well carry on without changing the principles embodied in it. It certainly works sufficiently
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
JAMES CALLAGHAN, M.P.
SECRET
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