TNAG-0279-FCO40-315-Visit-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Aff-1970 — Page 88

CONFIDENTIAL

Brief No. 13A

VISIT OF SECRETARY OF STATE TO HONG KONG

APRIL 1970

RELATIONS WITH HONG KONG: LOCAL ATTITUDES

Relations with Hong Kong in the sixties nave not been

altogether happy. It is possible to look back into the history

of Hong Kong for similar periods of difficult relations when such

issues as the defence contribution and land for defence purposes

soured the exchanges between London and the Colony,

The feeling that Hong Kong is a nuisance to Britain

2.

The present malaise stems very largely from a growing feeling

in Hong Kong that Britain, so far from being proud of Hong Kong'o

achievements, regards the Colony as a nuisance and an impediment.

In the post-war years we left Hong Kong to grapple alone (without

significant financial assistance) with the tremendous problems

posed by the influx of refugees from China. At the same time

we are seen in Hong Kong as having dealt the Colony a series of

blows to its traão and finances: the restrictions on its

exports of cotton textiles to this country since 1959, the

import surcharge (1964), the increase in the defence contribution

(1966), devaluation (1967), the import deposit scheme (1968),

and the decision to impose a tariff on cotton textile imports

from the Commonwealth (1969). Our actions are seen as showing

a lack of concern for Hong Kong's interests and for her special

/ problems

CONFIDENTIAL