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Buhih Trada Camcrciserone-H.K
Mr. Moreton
British Trade Commission: Hong Kong
I agree that the Hong Kong Department is probably the most suitable to take on the role of
"parent department". The establishment of a separate cypher link is in hand.
2.
There can be no question of any further extension of the Trade Commission's work into the political field in Hong Kong (paragraph 8 of Mr. Mills' note). The Commissioner's assumption of residual Macao consular functions is not an example of this: it does not relate to Hong Kong. And I would not regard the Information Officer's responsibility for explaining Britain's domestic and overseas policies as marking "an important new phase in the philosophy of British representation in Hong Kong" What has been agreed in this
uciserone-H.K interests occurs (apparent or real), someone puts
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Mituv 6/11
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31| - 8 NOV 1968
HK/6/5V1/3
" respect is that, where a clash of U.K. and Hong Kong
out the U.K. case. Clearly this cannot always be done by the Information Services of the Hong Kong Government, even though that Government has an interest in the 7.K. case being fully stated to
It is in this narTOW public opinion in Hong Kong. field, confined almost entirely to the economic sphere, that the Commission will undertake a wider "representative" role.
3.
Also by
The Trade Commission enjoys no immunities: nor is there any case for immunities in British territory for the administration of which H.M.G. is responsible to Parliament. The "privilege" of a precedence ranking is inevitable in a Colony end the possession of consular cards is a purely courtesy gesture. Exemption from rates (they are not "municipal rates") stems from S.38 (2)(b)(11) of the Rating Ordinance (Cap 116) which exempts tenements "owned or occupied by the Government of Hong Kong or of any part of the Commonwealth" a provision of some antiquity designed primarily to exempt U.K. defence establishments. statutory provision 3.K. based members of the Commissione staff are exempt from payment of Income Tax an arrangement which has recently been reciprocated for H.K. based members of the staff of the Hong Kong Government Office in London, The important consideration in the matter of privileges is reciprocity (although we could not now match the long-standing exemption from rates). The Governor in recent discussions indicated that he would be prepared to consider further matching privileges, but our tent.tive conclusion is that this would raise too many difficulties for us at this end to be pursued.
24.
I have sent a copy of this minute to kr. Murray,
5 November, 1968
(W. S. Carter)
CONFIDENTIAL