TNAG-0937-FCO40-1156-Visits-of-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-th-1980 — Page 239

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directly at the Chinese; as the Governor has pointed out this is

not profitable. We should however make clear that Hong Kong is

different, and that we are not able to develop its institutions

in the same way as other dependent territories destined for

independence.

Pressure for Change

13.

Nevertheless I suggest that we must match this tough line

with recognition that concern over the lack of representative

government is genuine among many MPs and that the possibility cannot

be ruled out that opposition will grow in the territory itself.

150 MPs have now signed the Early Day Motion calling on the Government

to support the proposed reforms to the Urban Council including at

least one Conservative member and many moderate members of the

Opposition. Not all of this support comes from people who are

uninformed about Hong Kong and although none of the 4 members of the

Anglo-Hong Kong Parliamantary Group who called on Mr Blaker are among

the signatories of the Early Day Motion, their views show that even

they were unconvinced by the standard Hong Kong reply.

14. Within Hong Kong itself the evidence of interest in change

is much scantier. There probably is something in the argument that

the Chinese people (at any rate in pragmatic Hong Kong) are less

interested in representative institutions than in ensuring that

these interests are looked after by competent people. But we cannot

rely on this mood continuing indefinitely. I believe that logically

there will be a slowly growing demand for some degree of democra-

tisation, at any rate of local government, and that some action

is necessary to anticipate this.

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