AKK 23411
RALDY
1 * MAR 1978
16
ниса
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
14 March 1978
ken
INDEX
No lichael.
20110
Thank you for your letter of 2 March enclosing correspondence from Mrs D M K Hodgkiss of Hong Kong, complaining about Labour MPs who criticise Hong Kong while apparently ignoring the shortcomings
of Britain.
Mrs Hodgkiss' reaction is typical of the sensitivity shown in
Hong Kong over any criticisms which visitors might venture to
express about the Colony. The situation is aggravated in the case of visiting MPs because the local press give disproportionate
prominence to anything they might say often off-the-cuff remarks,
or comments which the visitors themselves would be the first to
admit were based on a very superficial knowledge of local affairs.
And of course, the reaction is likely to be all the stronger when
the comments are made by Labour MPs, since I am afraid that not many
people in Hong Kong, particularly among the expatriate population,
would normally regard themselves as our supporters.
I do not think that this is anything which need cause us, or people
in Hong Kong, undue concern. It is clearly of benefit to both
sides that MPs should continue to visit Hong Kong to see for
themselves what is happening there. Although some people in
Hong Kong may feel put out when such visitors make unflattering
comments about the Territory or the way it is run, I doubt whether
The Rt. Hon. Michael Foot MP.,
/any of
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.