TNAG-0293-FCO40-329-Guidelines-for-the-Governor-of-Hong-Kong--Sir-Murray-MacLeho-1971 — Page 33

CONFIDENTIA

loss of face are minimised

of the Colony.

consistent with the security

7. I deal below briefly with the principal subjects which

have been brought to my attention during this period of

briefing.

8.

Chinese Representation in Hong Kong

Unless and until we are prepared to contemplate

changing the status of Hong Kong, the golden rule should

be to have the minimum of contact with the Chinese about

it which necessity requires.

9.

Necessity requires:

(a)

(b)

arrangements about the practical local things

listed in Mr Wilford's minute. These are all

handled locally through tolerably well-established,

if diverse, channels. In so far as these channels

from time to time do not cope with specific problems,

it is usually the problems or the prevailing

Chinese mood which causes the trouble rather than

the channel. So far as I am aware, the Chinese

have never complained that their interests suffer

from the channels they are obliged to use;

contacts with the Chinese Mission in London and

with the MFA in Peking about matters of principle

and policy or about local matters which local

Hong Kong channels are unable to deal with for

one reason or another.

10. This balancing of contacts between semi- or unofficial

/tuyeaux

3. CONFIDENTIAL