TNAG-0377-FCO40-423-Defence-and-Oversea-Policy-Committee-review-of-UK-relations--1973 — Page 35

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

Registry No.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret.

Secret.

Confidential.

Restricted.

Unclassified.

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

CONFILI

DRAFT

DOP MEMORANDUM

Type 1 +

To:

FROM

Telephone No. Ext.

Department

THIS DOCUMENT IS HE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT

Number

CABINET

Copy No.

DEFENCE AND OVERSEA POLICY COMMITTEE

HONG KONG'S RELATIOMS WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM

Memorandum by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

1.

Hong Kong is in effect a successful and semi-

autonomous city-state. Its crucial relations with

China are on an even keel. Within the Colony the

economy is sound and still expanding very fast. The

present Governor is developing Hong Kong as a place

where four million Chinese, most of whom came

voluntarily from China, wish to live and work.

2.

But Hong Kong has no political future of ito

own, and depends absolutely on the British connection.

Constitutional power rests with the Governor who can

in theory be directed from London. In practice we do

not normally exercise this power and Hong Kong manages

most of its own affairs. But friction arises when

the press and public in Hong Kong believe, however

winter

W/17

:

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