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would thus be helpful to both sides if a regular
reporting procedure existed for the implementation
of the programmes to explain what progress is being
made and whether the programme has had to be modified
(giving in the tter case the reasons).
It is,
of course, always open to the Secretary of State,
where he is not satisfied with these reasons
where he judges these to be outweighed by HMG's
interests to issue Instructions to the Governor in
accordance with Article II of the Letters Patent.
But obviously the decision to issue Instructions
should be taken only after carefully considering
whether the advantages of intervention outweigh the
Man risks of a constitutional, crisis in Hong Kong, the
avoidance of which is cardinal to the strategy of this
Paper.
7447 DU73840 101M 8/74 Cr.P.C. 839/3
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Bage 99 of 203
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35
The Governor will, of course, need to remain the
principal link between the Secretary of State and Hong
Kong. His position is a delicate one, since he must
represent the views of HMG to Hong Kong and those of
Hong Kong to HMG: occasionally these conflict, and
there is constant (if uninformed) suspicion in Hong
Kong that local interests may be subordinated to British
pnes
A telling example is the Governor's inability
to persuade Hong Kong opinion to accept the Secretary
of State's refusal to support executions in Hong Kong
because the population could not comprehend the refusal
except in UK political terms not. related to care for
their welfarel
nes.
Page 99 of other hand he was able to 'sell'
Page 99
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