TNAG-0569-FCO40-702-Planning-paper-on-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 57

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HONG KONG: BRIEF FOR MR CORTAZZI'S VISIT

PLANNING PAPER

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1. Attached are copies of the Planning Paper and of the department's Note setting out the differences between this and the Governor's Despatch on ilong Kong's domestic policies over the next decade. The Governor's only comments on the Planning Paper so far are contained in his telegram No 349 to the PUC in which he described this section of the Planning Paper as "interesting and stimulating", but including important passages on which he has not been consulted and reflecting fundamental misconceptions about cause and effect in Hong Kong. Ile accordingly hoped that this section would not be submitted to the Secretary of State until the correspondence had progressed further. This has been agreed.

2. In discussing the Planning Paper with the Governor, we

recommend that Mr Cortazzi should not seek to discuss individual

differences between the Paper's perception of the problem and those in the Governor's Despatch. We do not yet have the material from the Governor on which to give advice on what detailed points might be at issue; and, indeed, there is much to be said for allowing the Governor to prepare his reply and

for this to be fully considered at leisure here. What would be helpful, however, would be for the Governor's comments to be based upon his fuller perception of the objects of the Planning Paper exercise. Such comments would thus be set in a clearer focus and contribute greatly to the next stage.

3. With this in mind, fr Cortazzi might like to explain the background to the Planning Paper and the considerations

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