TNAG-0285-FCO40-321-British-government-representative-in-Hong-Kong-discussion-on-1970 — Page 14

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CONFIDENTIAL

R+ R with

Vrbavid

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

popno

dealing J

with lime

2

reference & 5.7.5.

En.

9/10

British Government Representative

in Hong Kong

You have asked my views on the suggestion that there

should be a British Government Representative in Hong Kong.

I do not think it desirable to have such a representative

specifically designated, but I do believe there are ways

in which the present arrangements can be improved.

2. Hong Kong remains a Crown Colony although it is in

many respects unique. It is constitutionally impossible,

in my view, to have a British Government representative

who would be, so to speak, accredited to the Governor who

is appointed by the British Government. The strictly

British voice in Hong Kong can, I think, be heard in two

effective ways:

(i) Through the Political Adviser who is a

member of the Diplomatic Service and whose

job it is to voice wider British foreign

policy considerations to the Governor;

(ii) Through the British Trade Commissioner.

I consider the present Trade Commissioner

who is also a member of the Diplomatic

Service, is too limited in his terms of

reference and operates at too low a level.

/I believe

CONFIDENTIAL