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SECRET
exist;
and also that the flow of answers to Parliamentary Questions is equally useful. Both have a steadying effect.
46.
Political criticism and extra- parliamentary pressure about Hong Kong in the United Kingdom ebbs and flows. Some of it is ill-based or self-interested or of questionable motiviation. Some of it is stimulating and justified. Hong Kong and its media must learn to be less sensitive and more selective about it, more aware of the facts of political life, and not confuse things said by a back-bencher to an empty House with Cabinet policy.
47.
The political system in Hong Kong, even when reformed as proposed in this despatch, will always appear unrepresentative to many political eyes in the United Kingdom. United Kingdom critics, and particularly M.P.s, should also remember that people in Hong Kong at all levels of society believe, and rightly believe, present membership of Legislative Council both unofficial and official to be infinitely more representative of the people of Hong Kong than anyone elected to Westminster to represent a United Kingdom constituency.
48.
There is room on both sides for more understanding and more humility and more goodwill.
I have made proposals to
49. improve the flow of information, which already is fairly good. The Hong Kong Government will continue to conduct its own low-profile attempts to gain more understanding in the United Kingdom media and in Parliament. But I think that while we in Hong Kong will continue to do our best to improve understanding of and goodwill for the United Kingdom, the best prospect of progress lies in the use made of really important visits to Hong Kong, such as that of Lord Goronwy-Roberts in '74 or of the Queen in '75 or of the Secretary of State this year. In such visits the main public object should be to reinforce and encourage the great mass of underlying goodwill for the United Kingdom that exists. The first two were notably
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