Reference....
about the restriction on sending reports on
one Commonwealth country to another although I wonder whether this has ever been applied to the supply of information to Governors of our non-selfgoverning dependent territories. Perhaps Commonwealth
Co-ordination Department would advise on these points.
(b) A satisfactory solution for the prompt
circulation of Print material would not entirely meet Hong Kong's needs.
(c)
Despatches in any case normally describe and assess developments some time after they have occurred; the more important events are often reported on nearer their occurrence by more informal means, e.g. by letters. Even if despatches were circulated as Prints from the FCO we would still need some arrangement for copying such letters to Hong Kong.
Material from the U.K. Delegations to OECD and EEC is, as Mr. Britten observes, in a special category. Much of what transpires in these organisations is there for all to see in its papers and publications, copies of these being sent to Hong Kong from London where the Colony's interests are particularly involved. But there are occasionally despatches and letters of importance, assessing and commenting on developments. We often send copies of these from here; but we do not always get on to the track of them until some time after their receipt in this office, and sometimes they pass this department by altogether. One of the examples quoted to me by Hong Kong's Director of Commerce & Industries was a recent (? valedictory) despatch from UKdel OECD which reached Hong Kong via Geneva and which they found particularly illuminating. I hope European Integration Department will comment on this point; and Mr. Britten may wish to reconsider in the light of their views.
/(a)