TNAG-0377-FCO40-423-Defence-and-Oversea-Policy-Committee-review-of-UK-relations--1973 — Page 64

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CONFIDENTIAIReference...

Mr Stuart) See regts

HONG KONG

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1. It may seem odd to suggest that we need to keep our image burnished in a Crown Colony but we spend a good deal of time considering how this can be achieved elsewhere and perhaps places like Hong Kong are taken for granted.

2. Over the years I have always noticed a certain element of anti-British feeling in Hong Kong (mainly among senior British Colonial Service officers), but a number of recent events seem to have caused more wide- spread denigration of Britain:-

(a) The failure to send Mr Godber back to Hong Kong;

(b) What is regarded as a cavalier attitude on our

part towards recent issues affecting Hong Kong, such as the sterling reserves, defence contributions and the death penalty.

(Last night's television programme 'World in Action' will

not help).

3. What underlies a good deal of this feeling (apart from the question of corruption) is that hard-working, prosperous Hong Kong is having to bolster up an ailing Britain, which is made to appear as if it is making a handsome profit out of its colony. Do we not need to look at this and consider whether there are any means by which some of it can be countered?

23 October 1973

c. Mr Reddaway

CONFIDENTIAL

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