TNAG-0293-FCO40-329-Guidelines-for-the-Governor-of-Hong-Kong--Sir-Murray-MacLeho-1971 — Page 37

CONFIDENTIAL

a-vis the Hong Kong Police and perhaps some of the

establishment, but provided the opposition is not

insuperable, my intention is to work for a solution

in the course of 1972, based on

19.

(a) a series of releases (no grand gesture);

(b)

an offer to the Chinese to deport the hard

core whose sentences cannot be reduced (as

suggested by Mr Denson).

Communications between China and Hong Kong

I am glad that the Chinese have dropped their demand

for a through train. I trust we ourselves will not revive

it, as it bristles with complications about immigration

and customs.

But the journey between Hong Kong and

Apart

Canton is a tiresome affair which, generally speaking,

brings more discredit to the Hong Kong than the Chinese

Government. I therefore propose to explore the possibility

of a direct air link between Hong Kong and Canton.

from the convenience, it would be a practical piece of

"normalisation" as well as a down-grading of the significance

of the two railway stations of Lowu and Shumchun. It would

also be a money-spinner and I think that Mr Keswick has

his eye on it. I will find out, after my arrival, whether

there is any local security or other objection and, if not,

recommend that we open negotiations with a view to having

the service in existence by the time of the Canton Trade

/Fair

7.

CONFIDENTIAL