6 COX'S PATH
KOWLOON
HONG KONG
14th April 1988
Dear Sir Peter,
Many thanks for your letters of 8 th and 21st March, with enclosure, and in particular for helping with this question of a the latter British Representative Office here in Hong Kong.
I
was disappointed that Lord Glenarthur dismissed the suggestion quite so readily and perhaps I should outline for you my reaction to what he has said, considering your special interest in Hong Kong.
before,
This is of course something that hasn't been tried apparently on policy grounds. The claim that something has not been tried before is however по argument for not future
attempting it in if justification for it can
can be found. Such things progress
made of,
as we Conservatives of the 1980's well!
is
are know
the
what
full
here
which
here
the
for
With all due respect to Lord Glenarthur, I the idea is
am not persuaded that at all discriminatory or divisive. To me and others the idea
represents no more than part of the weaning process has already begun as between Hong Kong and London. are naturally aware
Expatriates of
this process and the further it progresses more they are bound to feel the need for direct representation themselves, comparable to what other overseas nationals enjoy here.
a British
process
are
the
Weaning is a two-way process and the establishment of Representative Office here would be one of the steps in that taken from London's end.
Hong Kong's steps in this direction plain for all to see,
for example accelerated localisation of Civil Service, the projected establishment of a final Court of Appeal here to replace The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, self assertive attitude of the Hong Kong Government
and the Costs Agreement. There
the Defence are other symptoms of this trend; I would hope that you accept it as a fact that such exists and increasingly more manifest,
will become as it should, as 1997 approaches.
over
unduly
to
one
such a step in
as
an
I cannot see that China would object development. I would expect them to see the move as Britain's process of surrendering sovereignty over Hong Kong in their favour. То Hong Kong itself, such should be indication
portrayed seeing the local administration age and thus
as coming of being less synonymous with British rule and SO less appropriate as a delegate of Central Government.
of London's
At least as far as passport renewals are Immigration
concerned, the Department acts as a mere middleman, applications
forwarding renewal to London at extra cost and delay to the
applicant avoided if Britain had its Own passport issuing
do other countries.
which would be
authority here, as
1