TNAG-0334-FCO40-370-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 248

CONFIDENTIAL

180

situation in general operates to Hong

Kong's disadvantage.

Indeed it would not

be unreasonable to say that the basic

overseas confidence in the Colony's

stability and in its ability to pay its

way rests to a very large degree on the

constitutional relationship which Hong Kong

has with Britain.

(4) There may on occasion be a conflict between the trading interests of Britain and those of Hong Kong. This cannot be avoided. But the Secretary of State could assure the Unofficial Members that Hong Kong's interests can never be ignored by Britain in her efforts to seek fair and reasonable solutions to problems that may arise.

A