Mr Youde!
Mr Wilford
Sir D Watson
D_Watson
PO/Mr Blaker
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1:
CONFIDENTIAL
The Stuart
Mr Myforl
Sir D.
5. Walion
ANNUAL REVIEW FOR 1973: HONG KONG
Sir Murray MacLehose's second annual report from Hong Kong
Last year we
is, as he admits, much more muted than his first.
sent him a despatch congratulating him on a successful year of
This year he agrees that much has gone wrong.
progress.
2.
This has produced a despatch that is somewhat defensive
in tone and which omits some controversial developments altogether.
There is no reference to the Mass Transit contract decision,
except in the Calendar of Events. This is odd, even in the context
of the internal situation in Hong Kong still more so in the
context of Hong Kong's overall relations with Britain.
3.
Nevertheless the despatch is a useful reminder of the
day to day work of the Hong Kong Government. It relates the
problems with which we have to deal in London, to the more immediate
concerns of Hong Kong. These continue to be the growth of the
economy, the protection of Hong Kong's trade, relations with China,
the machinery of Government and the social and security interests
of the ordinary people of the colony.
The Economy and Trade
4.
The most important fact in the despatch is that, despite
all the recent troubles, the Gross Domestic Product of Hong Kong
has increased by 7% and exports by 6% in volume and 24% in value.
/This buoyant
CONFIDENTIAL