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these conflict, and there is constant (if uninformed)
suspicion in Hong Kong that local interests may be
subordinated to British ones. A telling example is
the Governor's inability to persuade Hong Kong opinion to
accept the Secretary of State's refusal to support
executions in Hong Kong because the population could
not comprehend the refusal except in UK political terms
not related to care for their welfare. On the other
hand he was able to 'sell' the recent Defence Costs
Agreement because need to reconcile the interest of HMG
in reducing their expenditure and the interest of Hong
Kong in obtaining a credible commitment from HMG was
comprehensible to the local population. Public
clashes of interest between FMG and Hong Kong are rare;
but when they do occur it is important that the
population should trust the Governor to obtain the best
possible terms for Hong Kong. If this trust were to
be lost he would also lose his ability to influence and
thus to govern.
Consequently his ability to achieve, for
instance, social progress, will lessen if he attempts
that
to further policies in any field which are not accepted
as actuated primarily by care for Hong Kong interests.
When he is obliged to do this, it is unavoidable
there should be criticism not only of him but of Britain.
However, it would be wrong to assume that,
because there is criticism of Britain where her interests
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is any deep seated or general hostility to Britain in
there
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the Colony.
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