TNAG-0306-FCO40-342-Equipment-for-technical-institutes-in-Hong-Kong-provision-of-1971 — Page 191

and finances: the restrictions on its exports of cotton textiles to this country since 1959, the import surcharge (1964), the increase in the defence contribution (1966) we are now

engaged in difficult negotiations with a view

to increasing the size of the defence contrib-

bution still further devaluation (1967), the import deposit scheme (1968) and the decision

to impose a tariff on cotton textile imports from the Commonwealth (1969). Our actions

Showing

are seen as a lack of concern for Hong Kong's

interests and for her special problems as

indicating an indifference to the special ties

and relationship which should subsist between a clony and the responsible power.

What I am seeking is a gesture which would demonstrate

administer to the Unofficial Members of the

Executive and Legislative Youncils that we do

*** care about Hong Kong. I believe that the

psychological effect of the proposed grant

would be out of all proportion to the compera-

tively smell sum involved.

hey

This leads me to the further point that

if we ignore Teng's suggestion which was

made in the presence of the leaders of Hong

Kong business and industry, those leaders are

bound to take our refusal to follow up the

suggestion as yet a further example of our

lack of interest in Hong Kong, even to the

extent of helping ourselves in the process

of helping the Colony. This in turn would be

bound to colour local attitudes towards

3