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Mr. W.S. Carter
(Hong Kong and West Indian Dept. 'C')
رست
FUTURE ROLE OF THE BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION,
HONG KONG
Since the British Trade Commission in Hong Kong was integrated into the Diplomatic Service on 1 January, 1965 there has been one significant addition to its function as a purely trade office. One of the Inspectors recommended that the Trade Commission should assume responsibility for the administration of all the personnel in Hong Kong connected with the Diplomatic Service. Hitherto,
we had relied either on self-administration or the generosity of the Hong Kong Government. One member of the staff was redesignated as "Administration Officer" with effect from 1 December, 1966.
2. We have recently been considering a request from the Principal Trade Commissioner for a further expansion in his field of activity. This would involve the inception of an information effort as an integral part of the Trade Commission. Some of the background to this proposal is contained in the attached copy of a memorandum, submitted by Mr. Hannam, on "The British Information Effort in Hong Kong" The arguments put forward are reinforced by the telegram sent by Mr. Robert Maxwell, M.P., to the Commonwealth Secretary pointing out the deficiencies in the present information effort in Hong Kong, (Singapore High Commission telegram No. 26 of 23 January). A member of Commercial Relations and Exports Department of the Board of Trade, who stopped at Hong Kong on his way back from Japan, arrived at a similar conclusion. It is evident, therefore, that serious consideration will have to be given to a reappraisal of our information work in the Colony. It is by no means certain, however, that the Information Departments would have sufficient funds available for a full-scale Information Office. They will know better what they can afford when they have received the results of the Beeley review. Meanwhile we have sanctioned the appointment of a locally-engaged "Commercial Assistant (Information)" and Joint Information Administration Department have agreed to the scheme for a "Bulletin", similar to the one proposed in Mr. Hannam's memorandum.
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I am well aware, however, that we may soon be treading difficult ground apropos the respective positions of the Trade Commission office and the colonial authorities. The proposed expansion of terms of reference would mean that "Trade Commission" would no longer prove an adequate description. We should be grateful for your views on the principles involved, and on whether:
(a)
an expansion of activities to include the opening of an Information Section under the auspices of the Trade Commission office is permissible;
(b) in the light of this, the nomenclature of the office
should be changed to something giving a better indication of its practical functions, i.e., "British Trade and Information Office".
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