PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT A
RESTRICTED
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No.51
FM BANGKOK 110617Z
15 FEE 1972
RESTRICTED
HKK3) SUS/5
548
66
TOP COPY
TO PRIORITY HONGKONG (PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR) TELNO 13 OF FER
11.
FROM PRIVATE SECRETARY.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 5.
TEXT OF THE SPEECH TO BE GIVEN BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE AT
THE LUNCH ON 14 FEBRUARY AT THE MANDARIN HOTEL.
2. THE SECRETARY OF STATE MAY WELL CHANGE THE TEXT A CERTAIN
AMOUNT EITHER JUST BEFORE THE LUNCH OR IN DELIVERY.
THE FOLLOWING SHOULD THEREFORE BE MADE SUBJECT TO DELIVERY
AND COULD PE DESCRIBED AS THE GIST OR OUTLINE RATHER THAN
THE EXACT TEXT.
''THAT I HAVE ONLY BEEN TO HONG KONG ONCE BEFORE REVEALS A
GAP IN MY EDUCATION. BUT I HAVE SEEN ENOUGH TO RECOGNISE A
MONUMENT TO THE INGENUITY OF MAN.
TODAY I COME LESS TO SEE THAN TO TALK. TO TALK NOT AT YOU
BUT WITH YOU OF THE PROBLEMS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THIS CITY.
THAT IS RIGHT, MORE PARTICULARLY NOW THAT THE WORK OF THREE
SECRETARIES OF STATE IS ROLLED INTO ONE. I HOPE THAT MY PRESENCE
HERE TODAY, FOLLOWING THAT OF MY COLLEAGUE ANTHONY ROYLE, WILL
GIVE TANGIBLE PROOF OF OUR CONTINUING CONCERN FOR YOUR WELFARE
AND PROSPERITY.
THERE IS GREAT INTEREST IN BRITAIN IN YOUR AFFAIRS. THERE IS A
GROUP OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WHO ARE CONSTANTLY ACTIVE ON
YOUR BEHALF AND 1, AND MY COLLEAGUES, HAVE TO ANSWER A STEADY
STREAM OF LETTERS AND QUESTIONS ON HONG KONG, THESE ARE MOSTLY
ABOUT SOCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROBLEMS. ALSO ABOUT THE GROWTH OF
YOUR INDUSTRY AND THE COMPETITION WHICH IT OFFERS. BUT DO NOT
IMAGINE THAT THE GENERAL TREND OF THESE QUESTIONS IS TOWARDS GREAT-
ER PROTECTION. THERE IS RECOGNITION THAT HONG KONG AS WELL AS
LANCASHIRE MUST BE GIVEN A FAIR DEAL. AS A MEMBER OF HER MAJESTY'S
GOVERNMENT, I HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES TO BOTH.
FOR ALL THE MUTUAL AWARENESS OF EACH OTHER'S PROBLEMS, THERE
ARE BOUND TO BE TIMES WHEN CUE OR THE OTHER OF US FEELS THAT WE
HAVE NOT BEEN TREATED WITH THE CONSIDERATION WE DESERVE. WE
RESTRICTED
/MUST
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