TNAG-0170-FCO40-206-British-Trade-Commissioner-1969 — Page 121

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separate minute

"Reference..

Information Policy Department

For Eastem Aduse.

Mr. Stewart (Hong Kong Department)

Having read these papers I am more than ever convinced that this is not a matter over which Guidance Department can give any really pr. ctical help. But in case this sounds negative my general views on the problem are as follows.

It

2.

Because the lease on part of Hong Kong runs out in due course, and because China may be expected to keep up the pressure, Hong Kong public opinion is prone to lack of confidence about the long term. is particularly sensitive to any action or lack of action by Britain or any other western government or business interest which may be construed as meaning that the outsider in question regards Hong Kong as a wasting asset. If for instance we dragged our feet about extending the airport to take Concorde and Jumbo-jets Hong Kong public opinion would jump to the conclusion that we reckoned the whole place would be in Chinese hands before these technological marvels arrived on the scene.

3. In this situation the first thing to do is to make sure that this fact about Hong Kong public opinion is known and taken into account all over whitehall in dealing with matters affecting Hong Kong. It may even be that this is not always appreciated by some of our many offices in Hong Kong itself although to explain it to them ought really to be to teach grandmothers to suck eggs. How the coordination of this matter is done in whitehall is a question I should not like to give a view about, but the aim should surely be that whenever a decision on a matter concerning Hong Kong is announced, the decision should be presented in such a way as to take account of these feelings of insecurity and a publicity line on it should be worked out in advance and communicated to our various Missions in Hong Kong. Mr. Rounth....aite's complaints really all stem from the omission of a procedure of this kind in the past. It might be that I.P.D. would feel able to take on the work and coordination involved in this suggestion; alternatively you might prefer to do it in Hong Kong Department. Perhaps the key point to bear in mind is that this kind of information work must be steady and long-term if it is to be effective,

it is no use whatever

rushing out defensive points like a fire-engine after we have come under attack over some decision.

나.

Chiese

Coming to Mr. kounthwaite's terms of reference do I think envisage him as in certain circumstances acting as a spokesman, but as a spokesman for Britain rather than for the Hong Kong Government. His job as I see it is twofold:-

(i)

(ii)

to keep you fully up-to-date on any development or possible development which may upset local public opinion;

to put over our point of view on any decision we take in such a way as to take account of his findings at (i).

/On