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by the Chinese; the embarrassment that this Colonial enclave might hold for them is mentioned (paragraph 39(a)(v)) as a factor that might operate to provoke a take-over. Nevertheless we would agree to "scale" instead of "indifference" as the first word of paragraph 39(b)(vii).
Paragraph 2 (a)
The omission of Australia from the countries named as being likely to offer to take Chinese refugees is deliberate. From its record we have no reason to believe that it would change materially its present "white Australia" policy for the sake of Chinese refugees from Hong Kong. Nevertheless it is a country which we should consult on this problem and could expect to consult in advance without any danger of a leak. But we see the point about paragraph 61 as drafted and suggest the omission of the words "of these"
in the fifth sentence.
Faragraphs 3-6
If
It is suggested that we should map out and discuss the future domestic policies of the Hong Kong Government. we did, we think it likely that it would nearly double the size of this report. These policies have a relevance to our recommended aim of returning Hong Hong to China (if it is accepted by Ministers) but are not, in our view, of "key importance to the success or failure of the proposals set out in this paper". To the extent that these policies are relevant they will be the subject of a separate study (paragraph 50) of the report. The Governor has already prepared a first draft of this during his recent leave, in anticipation that it will be required.
The dilemma which we and the Governor see is whether, during our remaining tenure in Hong Kong, to go full steam ahead with plans for raising standards of living and social services (so widening the disparity that its people will face when they rejoin China) or deliberately to keep down
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3
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