TNAG-0574-FCO40-707-Hong-Kong-annual-review-for-1975-1976 — Page 8

MRepons

See w6

11

C Mr Duff, WIAD (K.226)

Mr Stewart, HKD (K.246)

Mr Trew, PDTD (K.229)

Mr Preston, Caribbean Dept (Bermuda) (K.364) Mr Brown, GGD

Mr Hall, LAD (Falklands) (K.272)

Mr Beattie, DTEU (G 71C/G)

AMr Bickford, Legal Advisers (W 44/4)

Mr Cheesman, LRD (S.027) (for information)

B Mr Jarrold, UND (1144)

COLONIAL REPORTS

1.

-- Reference.

HX 311/501/1

Bu, 3/2

Separate copies

Now BH. 1579.

We have been reviewing the position regarding Colonial Reports since so many of the DTs are several years behind with their contributions and there seems little hope that a number of DTs will ever be able to produce regular reports which can be printed with a credible date of issue.

2.

Non

The information contained in Colonial Reports is available officially in Annual Reviews and in returns called for under 73(e) obligations. officials can obtain basic information on DTs in the FCÓ publication "A Yearbook of the Commonwealth'.

3. In view of the long delays in receiving material from many DTs for. the Colonial Reports; the fact that the information is available elsewhere and that sales to the public are far from spectabular I am about to put forward a proposal to amend Colonial Regulation 151 (e) and 152 removing

I will the obligation of OAGB to produce Colonial Regulations'in future. also propose that a circular issue to OAG's informing them of the change but emphasising that there is no reason why locally produced reports should not continue e.g. Hong Kong, but if so produced they would not be marketed in the UK for HMSO.

I would welcome any comments on these proposals to reach me by close of play Thursday, 2 September.

J. Justun

J Jasper

Gibraltar and General Department

K270. *4069.

ciś

ло

Injectin. निर्फक

27 August 1976

Mui Dotty replied, Payiciji us

Mr Lewis (G & GD)

COLONIAL ANNUAL REPORTS

1.

Mr Stanley's minute of 12 May

NXK 014/3 (6)

2. The Hong Kong Government produces a glossy hard back Annual Report, which is widely distributed and is a useful layman's guide to the affairs of the Colony. It is always produced quite early in the year. It is not addressed to the Secretary of State and I do not think it qualifies therefore as a Colonial Annual Report. The Governor of Hong Kong submits an Annual Review to the Secretary of State which, in accordance with the treatment normally given to such documents, is circulated as a printed diplomatic report. The Annual Report is of some use to the Department as a source of information but the Governor's Annual Review is more useful for policy-making purposes.

3. The last Annual Report for Seychelles which we have uncovered is for the years 1967 and 1968 (printed in 1970). It is a more official looking publication than the Hong Kong Annual Report but, likewise, is not addressed to the Secretary of State. Governor of Seychelles, or at least the present incumbent, not been in the habit of producing Annual Reviews.

4.

The

has

There has been an annual transmission of information to the UN on Seychelles in accordance with Article 73(e) of the UN Charter; this provides a useful, factual account of developments in various sectors.. (There has been no such similar exercise in respect of Hong Kong since the People's Republic of China became a member of the UN.

20 May 1976

CC:

Mr Stanley

PL O'Keeffe

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept

:

į

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

HKK 014/3

CONFIDENTIAL

DIPLOMATIC REPORT No. 167/76

FCO (S) WHI (S) Distribution

HONG KONG 23 January, 1976

HONG KONG: ANNUAL REVIEW FOR 1975

The Governor of Hong Kong to the

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

SUMMARY

Hong Kong came through the recession, but it was a most anxious time (paragraph 2).

2. Measures to strengthen the community of Hong Kong; they helped Hong Kong to weather the recession (paragraph 3).

3. The fight against crime is showing some signs of success, and the rapid rise in the crime rate over the last eight years was halted (paragraphs 4-5).

4. Throughout the year the attitude of Peking was friendly and helpful. The new relationship evolved between Hong Kong officials and Communist Chinese officials. The Royal Visit set the seal on the status quo. The position now reached, though full of oddities, should only be changed gradually and unobtrusively, if at all (paragraphs 6-8).

5. Relationship between Hong Kong and UK-the minor irritants have been Defence Costs, industrial competition, corruption and lack of information in the UK about the Hong Kong scene. How these issues have been tackled in the past year (paragraphs 9-14).

6. Misconception that the Colony represents a loss to the UK. When invisibles are included the balance is already in the UK's favour, and it could be increased (paragraph 15).

7. The recession in Hong Kong was sharp and deep and in March 10 per cent of the work force was probably unemployed. Recovery has been fast in the last quarter, unemployment has dropped and incomes are rising. The current mood is one of confidence, though the future depends on the recovery of markets in America and Europe (paragraphs 16–18).

8. In spite of the recession, resources were found to maintain progress in the major social programmes, but some rephasing was necessary. We hope to pick up speed again in 1976 and be back on course by 1977 (paragraphs 19-20).

20933-167 165905-17

CONFIDENTIAL

A