TNAG-0278-FCO40-314-Visit-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Aff-1970 — Page 26

CONFIDENTIAL

23

Mr. Stewart: I think we have made it very clear indeed that we greatly deplore these attacks, as indeed, we deplore any actions that are in contravention of the cease fire. We believe these are both cruel to individuals and dangerous politically, and hope they will stop.

Mr. Leslie Smith (Daily Mirror): In view of what you have said about Britain's withdrawal from the Far East, how does that affect the commitment to defend Hong Kong?

Mr. Stewart: That is unchanged. One of the things we made clear is that one of the responsibilities we still have in the Far East are responsibilities to British dependencies.

CONFIDENTIAL