Issued from Hwiz 13/2
Copy for Hwis 2216
CONFIDENTIAL
2nd March, 1967.
Толганам
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32.
During recent visits by Arthur Galsworthy to Hong Kong the Governor has discussed with hin ways and means of repairing the Colony's relations with Britain. The Governor felt that these had sadly deteriorat: with the various shocks to local public sentiment that British actions over the last few years had administered. In a letter following up these discussions the Governor wrote:-
"What is wanted is anything that will help to give Hong Kong
the impression that Britain regards her as being, although a dependency, a valued friend and ally with some dignity of her own. The impression at present which is I fear gaining ground is that she is regarded at home not as the loyal supporter sis on the whole is, but as a tiresome nuisance, to be slighted and made use of since she cannot be quietly made away with. A fair measure of basic confidence and trust in Britain is still there, but it will not last for ever if this impression is allowed to grow."
This is a matter to which: the Governor may revert in informal discussions with the Secretary of State.
The
2.
The actions which in local opinion have indicated a lack of British interest or concern for the Colony stretch back many years. failure of H.M.G., after the immediate post-war years, to provide any aid to the Colony in meeting the many pressing problems arising from the vast influx of refugees has been frequently the subject of public comment in Hong Kong, often reflecting pride rather than disappointment. Wheu, however, this fact has been set alongside the several hard bargains driven by the Service departments in the fifties and early sixties over the surrender to the Hong Kong Government of unwanted defence lands for the most part originally provided free or at little cost to H..G. (e.g. the £7 million Hong Kong had to pay for the Naval Dockyard), the worst possible interpretation has been put upon 1,M.G's somewhat aloof and neutral attitude towards the Colony. Defence land issues, which have been a running sore for many years (off and on they have been cropping up at least since the 1890's), are now fortunately behind us; the inequities of past arrange sents were ironed out in an agreemont reached at the end of last year. But constant pressure by H.M.G. since 1958 to increase the Colony's defence contribution, at a time when the need for improved social services has pressed with increasing heaviness on the Colony's resources, has also engendered considerable ill-feeling and is a scar that will remain with us for some time to come (notwithstanding the recent agreement fixing the level of the contributio over the next four years).
3.
It is on the trade front that H.M.G's actions have perhaps hurt most of all. Hong Kong has looked upon the U.K. as providing the domestic market which its industries need. The imposition in 1959 of limitations upon Hong Kong's cotton textile exports to the U.K. (ostensibly in the form of an inter-industry agreement, the "Lancashire Agreement); the extension of this in 1963 to cover yatñ and to include
Sir A. Snelling, K.C.M.G.,
c/o British High Commission,
Singapore.
CONFIDENTIAL
/within
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