Mr Youde
Mr Wilford
Sir D Watson
PS/Mr Blaker
CONFIDENTIAL
NICKIS
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ANNUAL REVIEW FOR 1973: HONG KONG
1.
Sir Murray MacLehose's second annual report from Hong Kong
is, as he admits, much more muted than his first. Last year we
sent him a despatch congratulating him on a successful year of
progress.
2.
This year he agrees that much has gone wrong.
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
It relates the
day to day work of the Hong Kong Government.
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 71% and exports by 6% in volume and 24% in value.
/This buoyant
CONFIDENTIAL