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international respect for it during the run-up to the

proposed attempt to negotiate about its future with the

Chinese in the mid-1930s. Fourthly we must avoid

grounds for misunderstanding on the part of the Chinese

of any intention on our part to disturb their interests

in Hong Kong by change in the basic political and

financial characteristics of the Colony to which they

have become accustomed or are of importance to them or

their supporters; this consideration will have particular

force in the period of uncertainty which has begun

in China. There is a very wide measure of overlap between

these requirements. They call for a considerable and

sustained effort of construction, administration and

legislation by the Hong Kong Government, to accelerate

and where necessary expand, and to complete existing

social programmes by the mid-80s.

21.

The Hong Kong administration has made

significent progress in overcoming the problems created

by the massive inflow of refugees which swamped the

social infrastructure of the Colony. In 1972 and '73

the administration announced a series of plans aimed at

eliminating deficiencies by the mid-'80s. These are

considered in Annex C and described in more detail in

Annex D. Those covering housing and the development of

new towns, and education, can be relied on to achieve

satisfactory and even dramatic results; the medical and

Page 35ealth service expansion Programme is also 5 of 203

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