TNAG-0525-FCO40-620-Visit-of-UK-Members-of-Parliament-(Defence-and-External-Affa-1975 — Page 159

ohuped to

lalce occul

public opinion,

of for pureed

Unofficials,

My leo

and to main Љу стройке

the Hory Kay

ния.

Omit, booking in mind

feat feil

way

120 pulsurced.

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of the Unofficials are not in accord with the views of HMG, as, for example, in the recent defence costs negotiations the Governor's position becomes in practice vendeligte. He is On the one hand servant of Her Majesty's Government and on the other

inf subject to practical pressures of governant by

a

deffelt one

he is La

the votony. For this reason, åt is well

consengus in been Mecoqueand practier understood that in such may well (in practice) acts

Ryan

For-this-reason,

circumstances the Governor

as/an intermediary between HMG and the unofficial representatives of Hong Kong opinion see his role és euroeste of Hong Kong's

Case. This is not at variance with his constitutional

responsibility in the last resort) to carry out the instructions of HMG/

8.

The option of fast resort, that of the Governor imposing HMG's views on Hong Kong by using his constitutional/powers, is one that needs to be considered with extreme caution.

with

Particularly on

such an issue as that of the defence contribution, it could risk/the resignation of many if not all the Unofficial members, with the consequent disruption of the system of government and risk of disorder in the Colony. The Governor could expect little or no populár support on such an issue: even if a constitutional crisis was avoided, his position in the

Colony would be seriously eroded.

J

7386 D073815 140M 5/74 Cr.P.C. Gp.839/3

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