SECRET
Mr Latour
separate copies
Mr Cortazzi
NICK CO13/stat/
HONG KONG
1.
I attach the revised planning paper on Hong Kong which now
takes into account the views of the Governor on the future external
relations of Hong Kong. Since we have not yet had his views, the paper gives only the Office views on future internal developments.
2.
On reflection, I have substantially altered the section on relationships between Britain and Hong Kong to take account of the attitudes and practices which have developed over the years in both the administration of Hong Kong and in the Office. The first draft overstressed the blame which should attach to the administration of
Hong Kong but a great deal of the blame for present practices must be laid at the door of HMG who, in the past, tended to give little direction to the Hong Kong Government. I am now proposing that this state of affairs should be changed and that more positive contacts should be made between my Department and the Hong Kong Government.
3. FED, the OLA and Economists Department concur as appropriate. Please let me know if there are any further comments you wish to make before the paper is given to the Planning Staff for processing.
3 March 1976
Сс
Planning Staff
FED OLA
Economists Dept.
Maillefe
PL O'Keeffe
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.
SECRET
Dr. back trak
E.B. & Co. 56-3197 9/75