RESTRICTED
HKB 011/3
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1268
OF 22053OZ APRIL 89
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
299
000343 MDHIAN 1746
FOR HKD AND NEWS DEPARTMENT
FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
·
1 THE HONG KONG STANDARD CARRIES A HEADLINE REPORT ON 22 APRIL ''IT'S TIME FOR ACTION, FORD TELLS BRITAIN''. THE REPORT SUGGESTS THAT THE CHIEF SECRETARY CRITICISED HMG AT THE FAC HEARINGS ON 21 APRIL-FOR NOT/NOT DOING MORE TO HELP HONG KONG.
2. THE BACKGROUND TO THIS IS THAT AT THE END OF A LONG EVIDENCE SESSION BY THE CS AND SENIOR OFFICIALS, THE CHAIRMAN SAID:
''WE HAVE HEARD IT ALLEGED AGAIN AND AGAIN DURING OUR VISIT THAT BRITAIN IS LOSING INTEREST IN ECONOMIC AND GENERAL TERMS OF COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG AND NO LONGER PLAYING AN ACTIVE AND POSITIVE PART AS FAR AS THE TERRITORY'S FUTURE IS CONCERNED AND THIS HAS BEEN ASSERTED IN A NUMBER OF QUARTERS. FROM YOUR STANDPOINT AS SENIOR MEMBER OF THE HONG KONG ADMINISTRATION DO YOU THINK THERE IS ANY TRUTH IN THE ALLEGATION?''
THE CHIEF SECRETARY'S FULL REPLY TO MR HOWELL WAS AS FOLLOWS:
OR
''COULD I MAKE TWO POINTS, MR CHAIRMAN. FIRST, I HAVE SEEN ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER OF ANY LACK OF MINISTERIAL GOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT IN HONG KONG. WE HAVE BEEN MOST ENCOURAGED AT EVERY STAGE AND THROUGHOUT THIS DIFFICULT PERIOD BY THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE GOT AND I HAVE NO DOUBT AT ALL THAT WILL CONTINUE. I THINK THAT IS ECHOED BY BUSINESS COMMUNITY INTERESTS HERE, WHO TAKE A VERY POSITIVE VIEW OF HONG KONG ALSO. I THINK, IF I MAY MAKE ONE COMMENT, THERE IS A PERCEPTION IN HONG KONG THAT BRITAIN COULD DO MORE AND THAT I THINK REVOLVES AROUND PRACTICAL ISSUES. THE ARGUMENT GOES THAT IT IS NOT SIMPLY A MATTER OF MAKING MINISTERIAL VISITS AND MAKING SPEECHES OF SUPPORT IN TERMS OF HONG KONG, WHAT HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE WITH PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE AND CONTINUE TO FACE OVER THE PERIOD OF THE TRANSITION. IT IS SUMMED UP MOST NEATLY IN THE PHRASE:
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