TNAG-0518-FCO40-613-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 27

CONFIDENTIAL

1

SIR DUNCAN WATSON KCMG

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Dear Duncan,

HXR 1/6

Sunt Watson of

се

116 in har

M. O'Keefe on illu

with

BRITISH EMBASSY

PEKING

7 November 1975

Ex

Viafir

I heavilyapee

Mrs. Janovih

Xx

Premch

77714

Mr Bentley

(45)

HONG KONG:

1.

I was grateful to Murray MacLehose for sending me copy of his letter of 23 October about Hong Kong, with an extract from your letter of 8 August to him.

2. The aspect of particular concern to me in Peking is the suggestion that the Secretary of State might discuss with the Chinese during his visit next year the desirability of more active Communist trade union interest in the processes of

government in the Colony. I share the Governor's view on

this.

It is the Chinese Government's view that responsibility

for the administration of the Colony is ours. To invite them

to modify that view to the extent of intervening in this themselves, even indirectly, would, as the Governor says open up some very large questions about the future administration of the Colony. Our existing policy of dealing with all such issues locally in Hong Kong to the maximum extent possible has been very successful in ensuring that they do not develop into

issues involving Sino-British relations. In consequence, I

share the view that the problem is far better dealt with locally the Governor suggests.

cc:

Sir M MacLehose KCMG KOVO MBE

Hong Kong.

ever

Teddy Yonde

CONFIDENTIAL