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INDEX
احره
CONFIDENTIAL
014/2 Foreign and Commonwealth Office
PA
Sir M MacLehose GBE KCMG KCVO
HONG KONG.
1973
London SW1A 2AH
Taken April 1978
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Questils R 11/4 w Ruppey of 17/4 ''/4
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Dena Der Murry,
HONG KONG:
ANNUAL REVIEW 1977
1. All of us here have read with a great deal of interest your despatch of 7 March containing your Review of the past year. Lord Goronwy-Roberts, who saw it before he met you in Hong Kong, has asked me to repeat his own congratulations and appreciation for your efforts. The grouping together of the numerous areas in which real social progress was achieved in 1977 produces an extremely impressive list. We fully share your determination that this progress should continue and we also share your belief that the dangers of social upheaval, which could be caused by such change, are well worth facing and can in any case be contained.
2. We concur absolutely with your comments on the need for Hong Kong to redress its trade imbalance with its trading partners and, as you well know, in this field too we appreciate your efforts as far as the UK is concerned. One point on which I cannot fully agree is that such an imbalance with the UK is the sole cause of criticism from here. As you have acknowledged in the past there have been failings in Hong Kong and these have rightly been pointed out by people genuinely interested in the welfare of those living in Hong Kong. Like you we expect such criticism to diminish significantly as a result of the recent improvements together with those planned for the future.
4. Your summary of the events of last year dealing with the police is very full and frank. It is easy to be wise after the event but we are still satisfied that the action you took was necessary in the light of conditions at the time. As you know, you have the full support of Ministers in actions you have to take, e.g. over Yaumatei, and also in dealing with any further irresponsible activities within the Police Force.
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lust
Don
D F Murray
CONFIDENTIAL