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7447073840 101M 8/74 Cr.P.C. 839/3
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
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paragraph
... of Annex C may point the way forward
to the development of trade unionism generally. VI BRITAIN. AND HONG KONG
33
the
The relationship between Britain and Hong Kong
has followed/normal pattern which has applied to those
dependent territories which eithed received no grant
in aid or were at a fairly advanced stage of constitu-
tional development. Nevertheless, it is anomalous
as compared with the remaining dependent territories
most of which are in receipt of aid and have been
able to develop along normally consitutional lines.
The Secretary of State continues to be responsible for
Hong Kong. to Parliament, but control, particularly in
fiscal matters, has been gradually relaxed.
In the case
an
of Hong Kong this was to some extent/inevitable process
given its self-sustaining economy; its increasing
sophistication; the development of substantial interests
of its own; and its size and predominantly Chinese
population. It would be extremely difficult to
impose on Hong Kong the kind of detailed control formerl
imposed by the Colonial Office on grant aided territorie
and it is questionable whether there is sufficient
expertise left in the amalgamated Diplomatic Service to
undertake such a task. Not does this in any event seem
to be necessary provided that an agreed programme on the
hines advocated in this Paper has been established
with an agreed timetable for its implementation. The
question arises as to how the programme can be monitored
For this a number of changes in the existing arrangements
Would seem necessary. The first requirement is that a
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