TNAG-0295-FCO40-331-Long-term-study-of-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 38

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Copy No. 1 of 6 copies

1

The

annex

might be a

Mr Wilfor

wizfora

HONG KONG

1. I have read with interest your draft paper and the subsequent minuting on the future of Hong Kong.

2. Any assessment of likely Chinese actions or reactions is not my concern. May I suggest, however, that we should include in the paper something about developments in Hong Kong itself. What I have in mind is that it will be necessary over the years to associate the Chinese in Hong Kong more and more closely with the Government of the Colony. Obvious examples of this are (i) a sumbable place councils and (ii) more senior appointments in Government Service

more broadly based representation on the Executive and Legislative for this

held by Chinese. This process is bound to affect attitudes in the Colony and it may be that there will be a gradual acceptance of the inevitability of reunion with the mainland, particularly if a more tolerant government emerges in Peking.

good idea. This 3. The only other point I have is that we would no doubt wish agai

with befor to look carefully at the size and value of our stake in Hong Kong

the before embarking on any kind of negotiations with the Chinese (we recently asked the Hong Kong Government for an assessment of the size and value of the European stake in the Colony).

facts a figures

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4. There was one recommendation in the paper prepared in 1969 which was recently brought to my attention as a result of a letter from Sir H Norman-Walker to the Governor when the latter was on leave before Christmas. The recommendation was to the effect that whatever may happen in Hong Kong the Governor should remain in charge of the civil administration of the Colony and therefore that the Dormant Commission conferring full administrative authority upon the Commander, British Forces, should be revoked. The position regarding the Dormant Commission is set out in detail at (2) on file HWB 10/15 attached. A copy of the Dormant Commission is at (15) on file 94003/27 attached. The question of the revocation of the Dormant Commission could perhaps be dealt with as a separate issue.

Copies No 506 relamed and destroyed D 7./11

18 January 1971

cc Sir L Monson

2

Sir S Tomlinson

Eɣania

E O Laird

Hong Kong _Department

Would you check whether the Dormer

Mr Cradock (Planning Staff) Commission signed by a head King

Mr Morgan

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is skill

skill legal

MW 187