TNAG-0334-FCO40-370-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 67

CONFIDENTIAL

I know of course that one consequence of the transformation

of Hong Kong from a trading to a manufacturing centre has

inevitably been an increase in the number of situations where

there may be a clash between the interests of Hong Kong and the

domestic interests of the United Kingdom. In such situations

we would regard it as a particular responsibility to see that

Her Majesty's Government took account of Hong Kong's interests

and that they were always carefully weighed when decisions on

policy have to be taken.

It is important that we should be seen to be responding

to the needs of a continuingly developing situation in the

Colony.

There are in this connection three matters in the social

field where an advance seems to be both possible and important.

(i)

Education

I believe that an early announcement of the

introduction of compulsory primary education, free

of charge, would do much to improve Hong Hong's

"image" both in this country and elsewhere.

It

is my understanding that such an announcement would

also meet with general approval in the Colony itself

now that a new public assistance scheme has been

announced. I am assuming that this new scheme will

make it unnecessary for the children of poorer

families to work to supplement the family income.

know all the practical difficulties in the way of

enforcing compulsory primary education but I am not

/convinced

I

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CONFIDENTIAL