FCO staff may not yet be able to compete in expertise with the staff
of the Hong Kong Ministry of Commerce and Industry. But in time the
combined experience of Commodities, this Department and Trade Policy
should be adequate if it can effectively be brought to bear. What
is true and will probably remain true is that we are much slower than
Hong Kong on account of the need to consult with the Board of Trade
and on account of our own complex procedures. Things may improve
with reorganisation of the Board of Trade because some of the diffi-
culties the Board has experienced over making up its mind may dis-
appear. But Hong Kong have a somewhat naive view of "representing
Hong Kong's point of view" which to them amounts to persuading the
Board of Trade to agree with them.