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Government which they can never elect is also being
vigorously tackled. As the Governor says, the "Keep Hong
Kong Clean" campaign has created a feeling of involvement
and confidence, and people are looking for fresh fields to
The problem is to keep up the momentum where the
initiative inevitably comes from a bureaucratic Government
rather than from the people themselves.
conquer.
6. The Governor also omits from his despatch, for obvious
reasons, a close examination of the problem of relations
between a developed Hong Kong and Britain, both as the
metropolitan power and as a member of the European Community.
Although it is true that they comprise only about 5% of our
relations, the points of strain are important and are
increasing in number. They bear particularly on the Governor
who is conscious of his loyalty to both governments. It is
unfortunately true that there is a lack of community in some
quarters both in Hong Kong and in Whitehall which tends to
make the resolution of quite minor problems more difficult.
We can do something to mend this by better official and personal
relations; and the interest shown in Hong Kong by Ministers has
undoubtedly helped. But we have still some way to go before
it is admitted by all concerned, for example, that Hong Kong
has a direct interest in ensuring that British firms build the
Underground Railway, or that Hong Kong's political need for
air links with Scandinavia are equally of importance to the
aviation authorities in this country. It is one of the main
/functions
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