TNAG-0445-FCO40-510-Discussions-with-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 68

SECRET

KE

香港總督府

REDVED IN

REGISTRY No. 51

31 MAY 1974

Sir,

NKK 13/2

RUBI AND

GOVERNMENT HOUSE MONG KONG

DEMMONWEALTH

3 1 MAY 1974

ALIDATIONS 9 1

OFFICE

HT

10.

27th May 1974

This is the first of three despatches about Hong Kong whion I am addressing to you. They aro intonded to provide, before my vinit to London in mid-June, a picture of the principal objectives of this Government and the problems which concern it.

2.

This first despatch covers the broad picture within which this Government is operating, including the implications of its relationship with China, the main objectives of current domestic policy and the salient factors in the budgetary and financial position within which they must be pursued at present. The second examines such special problems as exist at present, the third deals with the constitutional position and the possibilities of change in it.

3.

The normal objectives of a Colonial Government are to prepare the population for self- government and probably independence. Here, owing to the attitude of China neither apply. Nor is the population one Great Britain has conquered or forcibly subjected to British rule. On the contrary the population has migrated into the Colony because its conditions are preferable to those of China, and this process continues. As I see it, in these unusual circumstances, the objectives of the Hong Kong

Government must be to manage things so that:

Internally

a) the swollen population is employed with as far as economic realities allow- an ever rising standard of living, and

b) the confidence, loyalty and cohesion of the population are retained: and

Externally

1

c) good relations are retained with China

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

JAMES CALLAGHAN, M.P.

SECRET