TNAG-0278-FCO40-314-Visit-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Aff-1970 — Page 25

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Mr. Stewart: With respect, I think this is a matter on which I ought to inform myself a bit further, and not pronounce on the strength of the very short visit that I have made here.

Mr. Rocha: Sir, the New Territories lease will expire in about 20 or 30 years' time. Do you think this will be extended?

Mr. Stewart: 1997. No, I am not going to make prophesies about that one. Mr. Port: Could we have, Sir, in your assessment, the present state of Anglo-Chinese relations?

Mr. Stewart: Well, I think we can notice first of all there has been a decided improvement in economic relations in the growth in the volume of our trade, that we find political relations on a more satisfactory basis than they were (this is a comparative term). But we still have to remember a number both of United Kingdom subjects and Hong Kong subjects who were detained, as far as we can see, without any valid reason. None the less I am glad to notice that recently we have not only had the release of some of our United Kingdom subjects, but very recently indeed a number of Hong Kong citizens have been returned. So, I say, cautiously, that things have been rather more satisfactory recently than they were some time ago—and I think we must both hope, United Kingdom and Hong Kong, that this continues.

Mr. Port: Sir, can you give us any indication when Hong Kong will know who the next Governor will be. Will it be announced before the British elections?

Mr. Stewart: Now, you tell me when the next elections in Britain are going to be. But seriously, this is not a decision that we shall delay for long, and I do understand that there is a general feeling here that you do want to know what our decision is going to be, and you do not want to be kept waiting very long for it. So, I think I may safely chance my arm and say it would be before the British general elections.

Mr. Ma: Mr. Stewart, earlier this year the editor of the Financial Times of London said here that with Britain's improved economic situation she will play a greater part in this part of the world than it was considered possible a year or two ago. What is your opinion on that?

Mr. Stewart: I hope very much this may be so. Of course we ought not to speak in Britain as if all our economic difficulties had been solved for good and all. It is true we have made recently very considerable progress, and we are able to think in more optimistic terms now than we were, say, two years ago. So with all proper caution, I think I would agree with that statement.

Mr. Strauss: Mr. Stewart, again in your own personal opinion, do you think the time is near that Hong Kong should have more of an elected voice in its own affairs?

Mr. Stewart: Well, I would hesitate very much to pronounce on this without a clearer voice from Hong Kong itself on that.

Mr. Strauss: Are you implying that people did not speak to you on that subject?

Mr. Stewart: Well, I have both heard and read, of course, opinions on this subject, opinions which are not always the same. I do not think I ought to be making, at any rate at this stage, a pronouncement on this.

Mr. Samir Karam: Sir, I would very much like to know your department's clear idea about the Israeli air attacks on Egyptian civilians.

CONFIDENTIAL