TNAG-0278-FCO40-314-Visit-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Aff-1970 — Page 22

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

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way. As to withdrawal, the Resolution requires withdrawal. It also requires an absolute commitment to peace, and recognition of every State's right to exist. Now, you cannot pick any one bit of the Resolution out, and say "I insist on that bit, and I'm going to forget the others "the whole of the Resolution has got to be carried out, the withdrawal, and everything else in the Resolution as well.

Mr. Karam: With your permission, I would like to ask another question on the Middle East. Are there any kinds of differences in the views between the United Kingdom and the United States in the Four-Power talks in New York?

Mr. Stewart: Well, I do not think I can go into real detail about that. I do not think it could be said if you took any one of the Four that their views would be absolutely 100 per cent the same. What we are trying to do in the Four-Power talks is to get as much agreement as we possibly can, so that equipped with that agreement Dr. Jarring could start on his work again, and we could start turning the Resolution into an actual practical programme that could be carried out, and in that process. Britain's concern has been to try and bring the Four as near to agreement as we possibly can. I seem to have travelled some distance from Hong Kong. Not that I mind.

Mr. Leo Goodstadt (The Times, London): Sir, I wonder if I might ask you a question again about Cambodia. U Thant is reported as saying that the silence of China on the subject on the resumption of the Geneva talks was an indication of their possible favourable views towards this. I wonder if this is your view as well.

Mr. Stewart: Well, I think that is certainly a possible interpretation. I would be glad to think it was the right one.

Mr. Rajagopal: Sir, one of the trapdoors and pitfalls of Geneva Conference has been its insistent principle of unanimity, but there seems to be hardly any chance of agreement and unanimity between the Soviet Union and Britain. Is there a possibility that you may suggest a more effective practical formula between the co-Chairmen so that the ICC, with bigger military muscle could be effective?

Mr. Stewart: Well, I think that if you could get the ICC to function that would be helpful. But, it follows, I think, of necessity, from the nature of the functions of the two co-Chairmen that you have got to try to get agreement between them if any solution is to emerge. I admit the difficulty of that--but this seems to be an inevitable condition of agreement. And what I think has got to be realised both between the co-Chairmen and between the various sponsors in the disputes in the Middle East is the enormous dangers the world continues to run, if everybody goes on sticking out for exactly 100 per cent of what he wants, whether in the Middle East or in the Far East.

Mr. John Rocha (HK-TVB): Can you give us any indication as to who will be Hong Kong's next Governor, and whether Sir David's term of office will be extended again?

Mr. Stewart: I am afraid I cannot give you an indication of that at a Press conference. You will appreciate that this has been very much in my mind that we shall have to reach a decision on this matter.

Mr. Rocha: Do you think Hong Kong will have any chance at all of having a say in the next Governor?

Mr. Stewart: You will understand that constitutionally I have to take the responsibility for what advice is given to The Queen about this. Naturally, I should not do that without considering what issues and feelings here were. in the end, the responsibility has to be mine.

But

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