COMPI DENPLAL
COVERING
SECRET
1
Mr Kerr
BRIEFING FOR SIR MICHAEL PALLISER'S VISIT TO HONG KONG:
7-9 OCTOBER 1975
1.
I attach the briefs on Hong Kong you asked for in your minute of 18 July.
2.
These may seem rather voluminous for a territory with a population of 4 million and they do not in all respects follow the format you have suggested. It may, however, become apparent that the relationship between HING and the largest remaining Colony is exceptionally close and gives rise to problems of unusual range and complexity. It therefore seemed likely to be more convenient to the PUS designate to prepare a separate brief on each of these problems. Briefs nos. 1-7 describe the most acute of these problems and Briefs nos. 8-11 various matters which may come up in conversations with the Governor and others during his visit. There is also a Background Note on the Colony, a list of prominent personalities and the Governor's most recent despatch on the Colony's problems.
3. The form of the briefing has been determined by the fact that the PUS designate can, of course, be completely frank in his discussions with the Governor and senior officials but will need to be somewhat more guarded in his dealings with the Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils (UMMLCO). Although these are the Governor's senior advisers and act in many ways as an unofficial Cabinet, they also regard themselves as representatives of the Hong Kong interest, where necessary in conflict with HMG.
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Finally I should add that the potential for friction with this Crown Colony, which is also an important trading power in its own right and where the sociological attitudes are Chinese, not British, makes it very important that officials on both sides should know and trust each other. Kelations with Hong Kong are rarely, if ever, easy. They are probably more difficult at present than
COVERING SECRET
Y.
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