TNAG-0964-FCO40-1183-Air-services-between-the-UK-and-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 187

CONFIDENTIAL

3. BY WAY OF BACKGROUND FOR YOU, WHEN WE PUT OUR POLITICAL SUBMISSION (PARAGRAPH 1(C) OF OUR TELNO 461) TO S OF S FOR TRADE,

WE SHALL SUPPORT IT WITH COPIES OF THE COMMMENTS IN THE PRESS AND OF THE LETTERS FROM THE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS. IN OUR VIEW, THESE COMMENTS INDICATE CLEARLY THE DEPTHS OF THE RESENTMENT REFERRED TO IN (H) ABOVE. THEY ALSO INCLUDE SOME FAIRLY EMOTIVE LANGUAGE, PARTICUARLY REFERENCES TO COLONIALISM AND DISCRIMINATION. THE MAGNITUDE AND DIVERSITY OF THE RESPONSE ITSELF WOULD COUNTER ANY ALLEGATION THAT IT IS SOLELY THE RESULT OF CPA RUNNING AN ORGANISED CAMPAIGN OF PROTEST.

4. THE BACKGROUND TO THE REFERENNCE TO WIDER BRITISH INTERESTS IN THE LAST SENTENCE OF (H) ABOVE INCLUDES IN PARTICULAR OF COURSE HK PURCHASES OF BRITISH EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES (GENERATING EQUIPMENT, ROLLING STOCK, BUSES, CONSULTANCIES AND FINANCIAL SERVICES) AND DEFENCE COSTS.

SEE M I FT.

MACLEEHOSE

FILES

HK & GD

MAED

MR MURRAY

MISS BROWN

MR GARDNER

COPIES TO:

LEGAL ADVS.

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE

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CONFIDENTIAL