TNAG-0332-FCO40-368-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 20

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he wanted to get it clear that they were not asking for independence for Hong Kong.

He believed that there was no constitutional

between independence and

colonial status.

status

Hong Kong was prosperous and she did not under our rules,

qualify for aid, but he would try to think of ways in which we could help.

We were not unsympathetic but our rules were perhaps too rigid. Pressed about the

constitutional, status, Sir Alec said that while Britain would be content if Hong Kong

had any status that she wished, he did not believe that the alternatives to colonial

status would be satisfactory for them.

12. Dr. Chung asked whether it might be possible to give some technical assistance

to the Polytechnic. Hr. Browne made the point that Japan and Germany were helping with

equipment for the workshop with a view to obtaining orders for their manufacturers

from the graduates of the Polytechnic. Sir Alec Douglas-Hone said that technical assistance was certainly a possibility and he took the point about supplying equipment

so as to encourage further orders. On the aid question in general however, the inhabitants of Hong Kong must accept that they were relatively prosperous compared to many, even in comparison with the United Kingdom, where we had many unemployed and high taxation. Mr. Saunders said that Sir Alec should not think that all the members

of the Executive and Legislative Councils thought there was a need for ad, except possibly

for special schemes such as the air navigation equipment and the Polytechnic. Mr. Laird

made the point that £100,000 had been allocated for each of four technical institutes.

Mr. Cheung said the Polytechnic was more important than the institutes, which in any

case would not be built for some years. Sir Aleg undertook to look ing this question

to see whether some re-allocation might be desirable and in any case to see whether

publicity should not be given to the offer.

13.

Sir Douglas Claque raised the question of a visit by the Queen to Hong Kong.

Sir Alec Douglas-iome said that that was one question on which he could not speculate.

14 February. 1972

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