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increasingly rare opportunity for British units to serve outside Europe. And so long as we retain the Brigade of Gurkhas, Hong Kong is the ideal place to employ them.
UK/HONG KONG RELATIONS
21. The relationship between Britain and Hong Kong is inherently difficult and increasingly anomalous. Some of the disadvantages
for Britain in the Hong Kong connection have been listed in paragraphs 4 and 5 above. Two other potential problems may be worth mentioning separately:
22.
(a) Moves towards an independent policy in trade matters.
(b)
As an increasingly important force in world trade, Hong Kong already has responsibility for the conduct of its own trade negotiations. It has its own offices in Washington, Brussels and Geneva, formally attached to British missions but in practice operating with considerable independence. Hong Kong representatives attend regional meetings in the Far East and South-East Asia, at which the other participants represent states; and the Hong Kong Financial Secretary attends meetings of a number of international financial organisations. This tendency may become more marked as time goes on, and it could cause us increasing international embarrassment, particularly where Hong Kong is pursuing interests which conflict with those of the UK,
A amiliar tendency in international aviation matters. Hong Kong has its own airline (CPA) as well as a major international airport. The way in which the UK use rights in Hong Kong as a bargaining counter in air services negotiations (see paragraph 3 above) has long been reserted. There has been talk of a "UDI" in this area. This is probably exaggerated but we can certainly expect increasing pressure for Hong Kong to be allowed mich greater freedom of action.
Despite the efforts of the Hong Kong Government, through the Office of its Commissioner in London there is comparatively little knowledge or understanding of Hong Kong in this country. The
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