Cypher
COPY TON KIT
CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
D. 18th March 1967 R. 18th
11
11
05.00 hrs.
*
PRIORITY CONFIDENTIAL
No.356
Addressed to Commonwealth Office (DTD) Repeated "Peking No.1 24 (please pass)
My immediately preceding telegram.
Chinese attitudes towards Hong Kong.
It seems possible that this attack, which is on entirely new lines, has been promoted by recent views and comments expressed by members of the public and in the press about the desirability of developing representative institutions, introducing Elected Members into the Legislative Council and the creation of some form of "Hong Kong citizenship"; as well as by the very full accounts which have appeared here of Mr. James Johnson's opinions on similar themes in the House of Commons Adjournment Debate on 27th February. The C.P.G. may well feel it necessary now to leave us in no doubt about their attitude to moves in the direction covering a "third China".
2. I do not think we need yet assume that these attacks indicate that there would be objection to moves towards a better system of true local authorities.
3. We have hitherto always been cautious about explaining publicly the basic reason why Hong Kong cannot develop fully representative institutions, and as a result there is a good deal of confusion on the point locally, as well apparently as in the minds of certain Members of Parliament who have visited the Colony. The very clear statement on the subject by the Minister of State (Mrs. Hart) in her reply to the Adjournment Debate has received practically no publicity in the local press. I understand that Mr. Rankin has put down a parliamentary question, for answer on 21st March, asking why Hong Kong is not to have an elected Legislative Council. It would be most useful in present circumstances if the reply could make use of the formula employed by the Minister of State: e.g. "Because of Hong Kong's particular relationship with China it is not possible to think of normal self-government in the Colony nor to consider an elected Legislative Council". Perhaps the now very apparent dangers of continuing to press on these lines could also be explained privately to Mr. Rankin and others.
(Passed as requested)
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
Copy sent to:
Q
Foreign Office
CONFIDENTIAL
F.E.D.
вар
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 631
20 MAR196/
Page 45Page 46
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.