TNAG-0012-FCO40-48-Kowloon-disturbances-1967 — Page 105

QUESTION: The question would be in Aden the

problem was that nobody knew if they were loyal or committed

to Aden, that sort of thing, or whether they really were

linked to the Yemen and going back you are saying this is the

end of the line and they do not wish to go back to the mainland.

Have they not a stake in the colony? Is there not a feeling

they are tremendously involved?

SIR DAVID TRENCH: Yes, indeed. This is why we

get this tremendous support.

{

QUESTION: Perhaps this recent event may have then

contributed something to local morale?

SIR DAVID TRENCH: Yes, in a way I think it has

consolidated Hong Kong together, where it was not before.

QUESTION: Would it have the effect of making them.

see mainland China in a different light?

SIR DAVID TRENCH: Not in a different light. I

think they have always looked back at this. Of course you have

a population now born and raised in Hong Kong, although there

- not racialism, is always this tremendous Chinese racial feeling

but a feeling of being of Chinese race which is tremendously

strong.

/

QUESTION: How many expatriot British are there?

SIR DAVID TRENCH: Excluding the troops, of the

order of 15,000 perhaps, including women and children.

you get that figure?

·

Can

MR. CARTER: I can give you the figure of non-

Chinese which is around 49,000; and Commonwealth subjects

generally, I think, round about 30,000.

QUESTION: Are there any voices in Hong Kong which

would like to see a colony independent of both Britain and

China?

SIR DAVID TRENCH: A few people come up with that

idea but most people realise how difficult this would be in

practical terms.

MR. ELLIS: Thank you for coming. May I remind you

that this was on a non-attributable basis.

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