TNAG-0331-FCO40-367-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 124

hew 14

2. HONG KONG, OF COURun, oli HAS TO FACE A DECREE OF PROTO IN ITS MAJOR MARKETS FOR SOME OF ITS PRODUCTS. YOU ARE PRACTICAL AND REALISTIC PEOPLE, AND YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS THE PRICE OF YOUR OW PHENOMENAL SUCCESS, AND THAT PARTICULARLY IN THE CASE OF SOME TEXTILES THERE MUST DE A LIMIT IN SOME MARKETS TO WHAT IS POLITICALL

WHERE HONG KONG HAS

OPERATE RESTRAINTS' IN TOLERABLE. BUT EVEN LALIUE

JUSTE, UNDER

TRADE WITH OTHER COUNTRIES A VAST AND PROFITABLE MARKET STILL

LIES OPEN TO YOU. AND IF THE CONTINUED EXPANSION OF YOUR

EXPORTS REQUIRES A CONSCIOUS PROCESS OF DIVERSIFICATION, AS I BELIEVE IT DOES, I AM CONFIDENT THAT HONG KONG WILL MEET THIS

CHALLENGE WITH THE ENTERPRISE, INGENUITY AND SUCCESS FOR WHICH

IT IS FAMED.

J

11. IN THE U.K., HONG KONG IS NOW VERY MUCH ON THE MAP, THERE IS

MUCH INTEREST IN YOUR AFFAIRS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE

GOVERNMENT. IR PARLIAMENT THERE IS AN ACTIVE GROUP OF MEMBERS,

AND I AND MY MINISTERS HAVE TO ANSWER A STEADY STREAM OF LETTERS AND

QUESTIONS ABOUT HONG KONG. THESE ARE MOSTLY ABOUT SOCIAL AND

INDUSTRIAL PROBLEMS, BUT ALSO ABOUT THE GROWTH OF

YOUR INDUSTRY AND THE COMPETITION IT OFFERS. I AM CLAD TO SAY THAT

THE TENDENCY OF THESE QUESTIONS IS NOT ALL ON THE SIDE OF

PROTECTIONISM, AND THAT THERE IS ALSO RECOGNITION THAT HONG

KONG AS WELL AS LANCASHIRE MUST BE GIVEN A FAIR DEAL.

.

12. IN BRITISH CENTRES OF FINANCE AND COMMERCE OF COURSE HONG KONG'S

REPUTATION IS SECOND TO HONE. THERE IS ALSO GROWING AWARENESS AMONG THE PUBLIC IN THE UNITED KINGDOM OF HONG KONG AND ITS POSITION.

OF COURSE YOUR PUBLICITY SERVICES - AND YOU ARE WISE TO USE THEK -

HAVE A GOOD START IN THE MOST PHOTOGENIC CITY IN THE WORLD.

>

13. WE IN THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO DO OUR BEST TO HELP YOU. WE UNDERSTAND YOUR PROBLEMS AND YOUR ASPIRATIONS,

AND THROUGH VISITS AND REPORTS WE KEEP IN CLOSE TOUCH. THIS VISIT OF KINE SHORT THOUGH IT IS, HAS GREATLY HELPED TO CONFIRM THE IMPRESSIONS I HAVE ALREADY HAD FROM INNUMERABLE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TOLD ME ABOUT YOUR AFFAIRS. WE PAY YOU THE COMPLIMENT OF DELIEVING YOU WELL ABLE TO MANAGE YOUR OWN AFFAIRS WITHIN THE LIMITATIONS OF YOUR CONSTITUTION. TU LO HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE TRADITION.

ME

I HAVE ONLY TO LOOK AROUND (AT THIS GREAT CITY TO

TO SEE THAT IT BAS

WORKED OUT PRETTY WELL. OUR PRINCIPAL POLITICAL CONCERN IS

THAT SOCIAL PROGRESS SHOULD MATCH YOUR ECONOMIC GROWTH. THIS I KNOW IS YOUR .COVERNMENT'S OBJECTIVE AND THIS IS THE CALY BOUND BASIS ON WHICH A GREAT CITY LIKE THIS CAN BE BUILT.

THRIVINR

Induction condic

AND

3 CONTIDENTIAL

12/24

ALREADY

MAI

MANY

ACHIBUCTENTS TO ITS

CREDIT

IN

J&W

FIELA