TNAG-0574-FCO40-707-Hong-Kong-annual-review-for-1975-1976 — Page 24

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8.

5.

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and will long be remembered here. But for the

population and foreign observers alike the dominant

consideration was that the visit took place at all,

because it demonstrated, as nothing else could,

Chinese acceptance of the status quo.

The status quo contains many oddities,

but from the mixed experiences of the last four years

I conclude it is something in which changes, if intro-

duced at all, should be introduced gradually and as

unobtrusively as possible. It is not field for

diplomatic pyrotechnics.

9.

Though for the last year or two the relationship

between Hong Kong and China has caused no difficulties

the relationship between Hong Kong and the United

Kingdom has. Though these may have been small in

comparative terms, they have been an irritant and you,

Sir, and Lord Goronwy Roberts have discussed remedial

action with me. Hong Kong exposes many different

surfaces, which are of interest to many different

groups, and the motivation behind criticisms levelled

covers a wide spectrum. But the main sources of

friction seem to me to have been: (a) defence costs; (b) corruption; (c) industrial competition and (d)

lack of information about or comprehension of the Hong

Kong scene. On all these some progress was made during

the year.

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