TNAG-0275-FCO40-311-Development-of-Kai-Tak-airport-at-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 68

CONFIDENT IAL

the nexus of relations which bind a dependent territory to the

metropolitan country, both derive benefits which we do not normally try to set out in any balance sheet. But there are exceptions. We expect Colonies to contribute to our expenditure for their defence ( and Hong Kong does so); and in that context other departments do not fail to point out that Hong Kong's prosperity owes much to the shield we provide. It seems equally appropriate that we should continue to contribute to the development of an airport from whose operation we derive so much benefit.

6. On the "political benefits" point it is not easy to get over to others our own feeling that relations with Hong Kong have deterio- rated. Hong Kong has too often "cried wolf" in Whitehall and has acquired a reputation (particularly, I think, with the Treasury) for

presenting its views and its case in somewhat extreme terms. Ιη some quarters I have encountered the feeling (for which there is some justification) that much of what is said to be public opinion in Hong Kong is in fact the views of its officials and does not represent

any well-defined public opinion on the subject in Hong Kong. This

of course is not the case with the airport issue. In addition there

is often an inadequate appreciation of the importance of "confidence"

in Hong Kong and of the precarious base on which it rests. There are many who feel that we (and Hong Kong) overdo this argument. Such

views will no doubt be reflected in the advice given to Ministers on

this issue by other departments. It might help to counteract them if

the paper before the Hong Kong Ministerial Committee were taken;

this would be the right context in which to press for political

gestures.

Committee.

But there seems little prospect of an early meeting of the

7. The draft letter is addressed to a Treasury Minister, and not to Mrs. Hart (as suggested by Sir Leslie Monson). The ODM is a possible source of existing funds (indeed the only source of existing funds).

But the arguments upon which we are now relying point to either Board of Trade or FCO votes as the appropriate source: this means new money and an approach to the Treasury. If support is forthcoming

for our

...

CONFIDENTIAL