TNAG-0508-FCO40-573-Construction-of-underground-railway-system-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 185

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

CYPHER CAT A

+ LKIOD (5)

NO DISTRIBUOD IN A TRED

FM BTC HONGKONG 140902Z ADVANCE

CONFIDENTIAL

REGISTRY NO. SI

COPYIN 1974 HO FRD

4KK 21/2.

TO PRIORITY DTÍ TELEGRAM NUMBER CREDA 2-OF-44 JANUARY

CGD.

INFO ROUTINE F C O AND E C G D.

PA MRTS'

CC MKK 6/598/1

FOR ROYCE (OPG) AND LACKEY (CRE 2) STUART (HKIOD) FELL (ECGD) FROM ASTON.

2x)

PS

Mr Youd $ 17. Blake Mr Goodfellow

1. IN AIRPORT PRESS INTERVIEW ON ARRIVAL ON 12 JANUARY FOR

AN OFFICIAL VISIT (STAYING AS GUEST OF GOVERNOR) SIR JOHN

TILNEY - CHAIRMAN OF ANGLO-HONG KONG PARLIAMENTARY GROUP-

SAID THAT TUBE DECISION MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR SYMPATHETIC

M.P.S TO ARGUE HONG KONG'S CASE WITH OTHER BACK BENCHERS OR

TO TRY TO BRING PRESSURE IN EEC TO BE RESPONSIBLE OVER

TEXTILES AND FOOTWEAR. THIS HAS BEEN PROMINENTLY REPORTED.

ONE NEWSPAPER AT LEAST ALSO OVER-INTERPRETS SOME VERY GUARDED

EXPRESSION OF REGRET OVER MR. ROYLE'S RESIGNATION INTO A

HEADLINE WAS ROYLE TORPEDOED BY TUBE**.

14/1

2. HONG KONG STANDARD IN EDITORIAL TODAY (14TH), REFERRING TO SIR JOHN'S REPORTED COMMENTS SAYS THAT WHILE FROM A

BRITISH STANDPOINT THE ARGUMENT MAY MAKE SENSE ANY ATTEMPT

TO LINK THE TUBE CONTRACT WITH THE E E C TRADE POLICY WILL ONLY APPEAR ABSURD TO HONG KONG'', SINCE THE DECISION TO GIVE IN TO THE E E C ARGUMENT NOT TO GIVE HONG KONG ASSOCIATE

STATUS WAS TAKEN LONG BEFORE TUBE CONTRACT TALKS''. IT IS

"UNDERSTANDABLE THAT LONDON IS UNHAPPY OF HONG KONG EXERCISING

WHATEVER PRECIOUS LITTLE ECONOMIC FREEDOM IT HAS ..... BUT LONDON IN RECENT YEARS HAS SHOWN VERY LITTLE CONSIDERATION OF

HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT ON E.G. TRADE NEGOTIATINS

AND DIALOGUE OVER THE RESERVES. ADMITTEDLY H M G HAS TO GO

ALONG WITH E E C POLICY ON TARIFFS BUT HONG KONG AS A DEPENDENT

TERRITORY EXPECTS A BETTER DEAL FROM LONDON THAN IT HAS BEEN

RECEIVING, ESPECIALLY PRIVILEGES IN HONG KONG BY WAY OF REDUCED TARIFFS'

ASTON

NNNN

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