TNAG-1744-FCO40-2463-Visits-by-FCO-officials-to-Hong-Kong--including-visit-by-Lor-1988 — Page 189

6 COX'S PATH

KOWLOON

HONG KONG

14th April 1988

Dear Sir Peter,

Many thanks for your letters of 8 th and 21st March, with enclosure, and in particular for helping with this question of a the latter British Representative Office here in Hong Kong.

I

was disappointed that Lord Glenarthur dismissed the suggestion quite so readily and perhaps I should outline for you my reaction to what he has said, considering your special interest in Hong Kong.

before,

This is of course something that hasn't been tried apparently on policy grounds. The claim that something has not been tried before is however по argument for not future

attempting it in if justification for it can

can be found. Such things progress

made of,

as we Conservatives of the 1980's well!

is

are know

the

what

full

here

which

here

the

for

With all due respect to Lord Glenarthur, I the idea is

am not persuaded that at all discriminatory or divisive. To me and others the idea

represents no more than part of the weaning process has already begun as between Hong Kong and London. are naturally aware

Expatriates of

this process and the further it progresses more they are bound to feel the need for direct representation themselves, comparable to what other overseas nationals enjoy here.

a British

process

are

the

Weaning is a two-way process and the establishment of Representative Office here would be one of the steps in that taken from London's end.

Hong Kong's steps in this direction plain for all to see,

for example accelerated localisation of Civil Service, the projected establishment of a final Court of Appeal here to replace The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, self assertive attitude of the Hong Kong Government

and the Costs Agreement. There

the Defence are other symptoms of this trend; I would hope that you accept it as a fact that such exists and increasingly more manifest,

will become as it should, as 1997 approaches.

over

unduly

to

one

such a step in

as

an

I cannot see that China would object development. I would expect them to see the move as Britain's process of surrendering sovereignty over Hong Kong in their favour. То Hong Kong itself, such should be indication

portrayed seeing the local administration age and thus

as coming of being less synonymous with British rule and SO less appropriate as a delegate of Central Government.

of London's

At least as far as passport renewals are Immigration

concerned, the Department acts as a mere middleman, applications

forwarding renewal to London at extra cost and delay to the

applicant avoided if Britain had its Own passport issuing

do other countries.

which would be

authority here, as

1