TNAG-0843-FCO40-1053-Visit-of-Lord-Carrington--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-1979 — Page 59

RESTRICTED

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG: 29-30 JUNE

BRIEF NO 7: MEETING WITH THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL : OPENING STATEMENT

I am very glad that one of my first visits as Foreign and Commonwealth

Secretary outside Europe should be to Hong Kong. I was last here in

1973 when I was Secretary of State for Defence. I am sure that I

shall find a great many changes.

I should first like to say something about the way my colleagues and

I in the Conservative Government look at Hong Kong.

I want you to be quite clear about one thing. We are fully aware

of our special responsibilities towards Hong Kong and will discharge

them to the best of our ability. I hope you will accept our swift

response to the Governor's request for reinforcements for the

garrison as concrete proof of that.

We regard Hong Kong as a success story. You have no natural

advantages apart from your splendid harbour, and no resources

other than your talented and hard-working people. Yet the Hong

Kong economy has grown at a pace which is the envy of European

nations; your exporters are second to none in efficiency and

resourcefulness; and Hong Kong has grown into one of the world's

financial centres. We also have great admiration for the progress

you have made in providing homes, schools and hospitals, and a

better life for all who live here.

RESTRICTED

/I know