TNAG-0332-FCO40-368-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 27

CONFIDENTIAL

2.

(A) RELATIONS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND HONG KONG (Continued)

infrastructure needed for development.

This is not applicable to Hong Kong which is

The

a prosperous community. Nevertheless he would have another look at the criteria in relation to Hong Kong Britain is not unsympathetic to Hong Kong's difficulties but it may sometimes be true that attitudes are too rigid. As regards textile quotas and tariffs he was sorry that the U.K. action had to be taken: but Britain did take more H.K. textiles than all other E.E.C. countries. important thing was to ensure the correct alignment when the time came for the next important round of bilateral talks. There was no half way house between Colony status and independence which could be applied to Hong Kong There was no point in looking for constitutional solutions but it was necessary to look for solid ways of demonstrating

Britain's concern for Hong Kong.

CONFIDENTIAL