TNAG-0287-FCO40-323-Briefs-for-visits-in-UK-of-Governor-designate-of-Hong-Kong---1971 — Page 93

CONFIDENTIAL

to take in various future contingencies. As regards paragraph 5 of my minute of 17 February, I would not regard what Sir D Trench

said to me as in any way a criticism of Hong Kong Department's assiduity in stressing to other FCO and Whitehall Departments

the need to maintain confidence in Hong Kong. But the plain

fact is that we have taken decisions in the past which, whatever their other merits, must surely have a tendency to

reduce that confidence. I have had a part in some of those

decisions myself and I have no doubt that in future I shall support decisions which will further tend to erode that

confidence, recommending that Hong Kong Department should be overruled in so far as that is necessary. But this surely

does not make it illegitimate for the Governor to take every opportunity of reminding us (me as much as anyone else) of the possible consequences in Hong Kong, of such decisions.

23 February 1971

Gopies to Mr Down

Sir L Monson

Mr Wilford

Ma traind

CONFIDENTIAL

J.R.a.

вживу

JR A Bottomley