Page 100
-
14
·
of 201
Page 100
the recent Defence Costs Agreement because need to recon
cile the interest of HMG in reducing their
expenditure
and the interest of Hong Kong in obtaining a credible
commitment from HMG was comprehensible to the local
population. Public clashes of interest between HMG
and Hong Kong are rare; but when they do occur it is
important that the population should trust the
Governor to obtain the best possible terms for Hong
Kong. If this trust were to be lost he would also lose
his ability to influence and thus to govern.
Consequently
his ability to achieve, for instance, social progress,
will lessen if he attempts to further policies in
any field which are not accepted as actuated primarily
by care for Hong Kong interests.
corbit of from
36
Ohr
The policies advanced in this paper nevertheless involve some adjustment in relations with Hong Kong
which could well be resented there. Without corrective
measures this could significantly affect the chances
of the general strategy, indeed it could lead to a
growth of the anti-British sentiment which could be
Colonial corrosive of the link essential for Hong Kong's
existance. It will be necessary to combat this by
permitting a wide understanding locally of whix our overall policy for the Colony and bydeveloping a greater awareness among Hong Kong Government officials of their role in that overall policy. It will also be necessary to counter a general anti-British sentiment: by an active information policy. (Opinions on the extent of
Onl
this differ: to
to -Whitehall and Page 100 of 203-W
ti
feelings
/generally
Page 100
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
1
7447 D073840 101M 8/74 Cr.P.C. 839/3
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
•