TNAG-0374-FCO40-420-Discussions-with-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 142

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NOTHING TO BE written IN THIS MARGIN

CONFIDENTIAL

8.

Where I seek your support and what I ask of my

colleagues, is that in all matters of these kinds

7

relating to Hong Kong the Department directly concerned

should remember that HMG as a whole have a responsi-

bility towards the Colony and that we must try to

reach agreement on courses which across the whole

field of our work seek to balance the United Kingdom

and the Hong Kong interest. We shall shortly be

meeting to discuss the issue raised in paragraph 4

above where I hope that some way of helping the

Governor presentationally may be found. [A reference

to sterling agreements if this has gone all right.]

The other issue which should help the Governor at

limited cost to the taxpayer but at some to BOAC's

profits would be to settle the civil aviation dispute

in favour of SAS. Finally we must not forget that in

the next couple of months the Hong Kong Government

will bring to a close their studies on a Mass Transit

scheme and we hope that the contract may be won by a

thing British consortium. But if it is a close run/we cannot

expect them to show us favours if we appear to have

trampled regularly on their interest.

Nor incidentally

do I think this is a matter on which we can give them

orders.

CONFIDENTIAL