TNAG-0543-FCO40-638-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 168

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LUN

FORNTIAL

11.

The degree to which the members of UMELCO are representative of

the people of Hong Kong is disputable. As they are appointed and not elected, their authority derives from their professional expertise, business capacity, knowledge of English and the ability to command

the respect of some section of the public. In practice this tends to restrict candidates to persons who have come to notice through

the time and effort which they have devoted to public and charitable work, which in turn means that they are generally rich.

The Governor is aware of the limitations of the present system and the Government therefore attaches importance to keeping closely in touch with public opinion. Besides the Urban Council, which is a semi-elected body concerned mainly with public health and the provision

of parks and amenities, there are a large number of unofficial advis-

ory committees which provide a bridge between the Government and the

people.

THE HONG KONG/UNITED KINGDOM RELATIONSHIP

12.

In practice the Colony enjoys a wide measure of self-government, resembling as it does a semi-autonomous city state. So while there is community of interest between Hong Kong and the UK there are clashes of views on a number of issues. At the same time, dependence

on Britain is entirely accepted, for without the British involvement the Colony in its present form would cease to exist, and is well under- stood that where UK interests are directly involved then the last word

will necessarily be with HMG. However, awareness of Hong Kong's importance as a trading power and of the different Chinese sociological attitudes prevailing there, have often led people in the Colony to

feel that on purely local matters the last word should be local and

seen to be local.

13. Relations with Hong Kong are therefore rarely, if ever, straight- forward and at present they are possibly more difficult than usual. Besides the Defence Costs Agreement there are a number of issues, none of them vital, but cumulatively important, which underlie the present uneasy relationship.

COM/HEMAL

Constitutional Progress