TNAG-0286-FCO40-322-Visits-of-HRH-Princess-Alexandra-to-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 60

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were borne on the Colonial Services vote). In the event the Hong Kong Government contri- buted £15,000 towards the total common costs of the tour (which amounted to approximately £55, 000).

Argument

7. Royal Visits in general are a very effec- tive manifestation of the British connection; they help to reassure the local population of our continuing interest and are a fillip to confidence and morale. This is a particularly important consideration in the case of Hong Kong. The economic and commercial interests

of the Colony and of the United Kingdom have tended to diverge in recent years; this has been particularly apparent in the field of trad

in textiles. The devaluation of sterling

and other economic measures we have had to

take have also adversely affected our relations with the Colony. Public opinion in Hong Kong, conscious of the Colony's remote and vulnerable

position in the shadow of China, has under- standably been inclined to seek some reassurace and to look for this in the value and strength

of the links with Britain. Because of these factors we have since 1967 been striving, in consultation with the Governor, to find

tangible ways in which we could demonstrate our interest and concern for Hong Kong and

generate some warmth in our relationship with the Colony. One of the measures adopted for this purpose was the conferring earlier this year of the title "Royal" upon the Hong Kong

Police and Auxiliary Police Forces and the

acceptance by Princess Alexandra of the

honorary appointment of Commandant General of

the two Forces. A visit to Hong Kong by

Princess Alexandra would not only give wide- spread pleasure to the people of the Colony (Her Royal Highness is very popular there); it

would also enable the Princess to be formally "installed" as Commandant General.

.9. There have been no official Royal visits to the Colony since 1961. Princess Margaret

and Lord Snowden visited it in 1966 at

Board of Trade expense in connection with / "British Week"

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