TNAG-0482-FCO40-547-Diplomatic-reports-from-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Ho-1974 — Page 57

SECRET

香港總督府

Sir,

REDVED IN

REGISTRY No. 51

31 MAY 1974

WKK 13/2

GOVERNMENT HOUSE

HONG KONG

H

10

27th May 1974

FOREIGN AND 01MMONWEALTH OFFI

3 1 MAY 1974

ALLOPATIOMB AK

This is the first of three despatches about Hong Kong which I am addressing to you. They are intended to provide, before my visit 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

c) good relations are retained with China

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

JAMES CALLAGHAN, M.P.

SECRET