TNAG-0334-FCO40-370-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 177

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

CONFIDENTIAL

put forward.

6.

Meanwhile the Overseas Development Administration

(ODA) are very ready to place at Hong Kong's

disposal the advice and recommendations of their

technical advisers who visit the Colony from time

to time. The ODA also finance a small scheme

for the training of students in Britain (about

£32,000 a year); and they are actively engaged

in recruiting technical personnel for employment

by the Hong Kong Government.

7. Hong Kong tends to grumble about

neglect

and to argue that Britain has a "moral obligation"

towards the Colony and that something is needed to

bring home to the people that Hong Kong is a

British Crown Colony for which HMG have a special

regard.

8. In public and with the Unofficial Members of

the Executive and Legislative Councils it would

be best if the Secretary of State could confine himself to the formula set out in paragraph .5.

above.

However, with the Governor and his official

British advisers it is recommended that the

Secretary of State should take the opportunity to

explore the idea of British aid being used more

extensively to further UK commercial and industrial

interests. For example, it should be possible to

work out arrangements in connection with the mass

transit scheme which would benefit both Britain

and Hong Kong→

3.

CONFIDENT IAL