TNAG-0278-FCO40-314-Visit-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Aff-1970 — Page 42

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Mr. Stewart: Woll, you must remember, one of the jobs of my

Dopartmant is to keep itself informed of tho wishes and intorests of all

our dependent territorios, Hong Kong not the least.

Mr. Joseph Ma (U.P.I.):

to learn of Hong Kong's hopos.

horof

Farlior, you mentioned that you came horo

What hopos of Hong Kong did you leam whilo

Mr. Stewart: I learned something about the progress you aro making

in social problems, the hopes you have of improving methods of transport, and

of the growth of your cconomy.

Mr. Ma: What about constitutionally?

Mr. Stomart:

That is surely a very different question. I wouldn't

want to comment hore about constitutional changes inside the Colony.

Mr. Rajagopal:

It has born recently said by Mr. Abba Fban of

Israel that this is an aroa of disengagement by the supor powers,the big

powers. I should imagino this would largely apply to a rogion like Indo-China

whore the big powers have been involved often. I have boon proved wrong.

Would you indicato tho possibility of tho Soviet Union and Britain really

coming out with an attractivo initiative which would also bo agrood upon by

tho parties concerned in South Vietnam, North Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos and

restore at least a fragilo poaco like in 19547

Mr. Stewart: I wouldn't rule this out, and by themselves, I soo vory

groat difficultios in the way. Wo have, for example, on many occasions during

tho Viotnam war -- we had asked the Soviet Government if they would join with us

in reconvening the Genova conforenco unfortunately, without success. I

don't lose hope over this. It does soon extremely difficult.

Wo've had a visit by lr. Heath who said the Conservative

to set up a special commission to look into the problems

Mr. Tilley:

Tarty

of Hong Kong

..... It sooms the Conservativo Party has placed far more importanco

on Hong Kong than tho Labour Party.

/Mr. Stewart.

....