Mr Male
PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts
FLAG C
.ag
A
ag B
DESPATCHES ON HONG KONG
1. In preparation for his visit to the U.K. next week, thes Governor has sent us two interesting despatches. A third in promised. The first is a broad political despatch on bhu current situation of Hong Kong, both internally and in doinkioo to China. The second deals with the specific questions of inflation and falling real wages. The third, will cover ponibl constitutional changes.
2. I find myself in almost total agreement with the objectiv and with the analysis of the first despatch. The delicate balance with China is well described. There have alwyn b two options for the present and future relationship with him; to try to make it explicit, by public discussion and twent negotiation with the Chinese Government; or to accept it he quietly as possible, to avoid circumstances in which thg Chinese would feel bound to try to change it, and to potbreme negotiation or public discussion. The only argument for libe first option is that changes within China might make negotiations in the future more dangerous than in the prèự nh. But the Governor argues persuasively that the interont of bolh China and Hong Kong is the status quo and that it would be pointless and probably damaging to try to change it in premtul circumstances.
3. He has written this before. His reason for reintroducir the theme now is to make the contrasting point that, while we are wise to act with caution in political and constitutional affairs, in questions of social development, the Hong Kong Government has to be a Government in a hurry. I attach brief
URORIN
/details
Page 90Page 91
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.