TNAG-0521-FCO40-616-Visit-of-Lord-Goronwy-Roberts--Parliamentary-Under-Secretary-1975 — Page 111

CONFIDENTIAL

a

(b)

create an alternative focus of loyalty in Hong Kong

and thus make the government of the Colony more difficult (even in good times);

and

(c) (as a corollary of (a) and (b)) damage relations

between China and the United Kingdom.

On the other hand, it has also been argued that our current relations with the Chinese are such that there might be some advantage in agreeing to discuss the matter further with the Chinese in order to define the scope and functions of any representative.

5.

The arguments for continuing to reject the proposal are, in our view and that of the Governor of Hong Kong, overriding. There has been no indication that continued rejection of the Chinese proposal would do really serious damage to relations between the two countries. Nor has rejection put at risk UK trade with China. So long as this remains the case, there can be no advantage in agreeing to discuss the proposal. Once we had embarked on talks, it would be hard to break them off, if we found it necessary to do so, without damage to our relations and without running the risk of provoking the Chinese to inspiring adverse publicity.

6. The Secretary of State told the Governor of Hong Kong on 21 June that he was content to leave the present policy undisturbed for the time being; it could be discussed when the Governor returned to the UK towards the end of the year. In the event the subject was not discussed during the Governor's recent visit. Lord Goronwy-Roberts may wish to go over the ground with the Governor in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept. 7 January 1975

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