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he wanted to get it clear that they were not asking for independence for Hong Kong.
He believed that there was no constitutional
between independence and
status
colonial status. Hong Kong was prosperous and she did not under our rules,
qualify for aid, but he would try to think of ways in which we could help.
We were not unsympathetic but our rules were perhaps too rigid. Pressed about the
constitutional, status, Sir Alec said that while Britain would be content if Hong Kong had any status that she wished, he did not believe that the alternatives to colonial
status would be satisfactory for them.
12. Dr. Chung asked whether it might be possible to give some technical assistance
to the Polytechnic. Mr. Browne made the point that Japan and Germany were helping with
equipment for the workshop with a view to obtaining orders for their manufacturers
from the graduates of the Polytechnic. Sir Alec Douglas-home said that technical
assistance was certainly a possibility and he took the point about supplying equipment
so as to encourage further orders. On the aid question in general however, the
inhabitants of Hong Kong must accept that they were relatively prosperous compared to many, even in comparison with the United Kingdom, where we had many umemployed and · high taxation. Mr. Saunders said that Sir Alec should not think that all the members
of the Executive and Legislative Councils thought there was a need for aid, except possibly
for special schemes such as the air navigation equipment and the Polytechnic. Hr. Laird made the point that £100,000 had been allocated for each of four technical institutes.
Mr. Cheung said the Polytechnic was more important than the institutes, which in any
case would not be built for some years. Sir Alec undertook to look ing this question
to see whether some re-allocation might be desirable and in any case to see whether
publicity should not be given to the offer.
13. Sir Douglas Claque raised the question of a visit by the Queen to liong Kong.
Sir Alec Douglas-Home said that that was one question which he could not speculate.
14 February, 1972
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