TNAG-0289-FCO40-325-Departmental-briefs-on-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 78

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rather different from its position in a foreign

or independent Commonwealth country. BTC and

the Council have close contact and friendly

relations but the latter require little practical

assistance.

(iv) Overall assessment

Hong Kong is unusual in that, for political

reasons, there can never be any constitutional

development from colonial status towards self-

government and independence. The information

post was established three years ago to meet the

need to have someone on the spot to put the UK

case, particularly when UK policies have unfavourable repercussions in Hong Kong. The

nature of a UK Government IO's work in a

colonial territory (and particularly in Hong Kong,

where there is widespread criticism of Britain by

the expatriate population) requires an unusual

amount of tact and discretion. The Senior Trade

Commissioner and the Trade Commissioner for Press

Relations consider that now that the latter post

is well established it could adequately be

occupied by a young energetic Grade 7 Officer.

However, to meet the requirements when the post

was created, a Grade 6 Officer was considered

necessary. We do not see that the situation

has changed, nor is it likely to do so in the

near future. We are therefore awaiting the

Inspector's recommendation on this point.

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