2600224
C.S. 84
ג
XCR(69)221
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- 2 -
a transfer which conferred on the London Office the role and functions of a detached section of that department, working under an Assistant Director of the Department (designated "Director, London Office"). His responsibilities included:
(i)
(ii)
liaison with the British Government on issues deriving from Hong Kong's trade with Britain. These included the cotton textiles agreements, the tightening up of Imperial (now Commonwealth) preference arrangements, and the health and safety aspects of Hong Kong products, particularly in relation to British law;
the trade promotion of Hong Kong goods in the United Kingdom, and the handling of trade
enquiries and complaints from British firms;
and, arising from these above two responsibilities:
(iii) the dissemination of information about Hong Kong, and particularly about its trade and industry.
The foregoing responsibilities inevitably involved the London Office in an increasing amount of general publicity and information work which necessitated the appointment of an Information Officer. This in turn resulted in the Information Section of the London Office answering numerous general inquiries about Hong Kong, e. g. regarding climate, employment, cost of living, hotel accommodation, labour legislation, and so forth. It became normal for anyone in London (or Britain for that matter) who had questions about Hong Kong to turn to the London Office rather than the Colonial Office, Commonwealth Institute or any other body.
5
When the Trade Development Council was set up in 1966, it took over the trade promotion functions from the London Office and in the process absorbed certain members of its staff.
6
The 1967 disturbances gave a new impetus and a changed emphasis to the work of the London Office, which became increasingly involved in the large-scale dissemination of factual information on the progress of every kind of event in Hong Kong without waiting for inquiries to be made. This commitment has remained important and the Office has become the recognised British outlet and agency of the Information Services Department in Hong Kong.
7
Apart from the vast expansion of its "information" activities, the London Office- and in particular its Director - has acquired a number of extraneous functions over the years. The Director is Vice- Chairman of the Board of Governors which administers Hong Kong House; he is Chairman of the London Selection Board (for would-be Hong Kong recruits to this Government temporarily resident in Britain) and a Public Relations Advisory Committee which co-ordinates public relations activities on behalf of Hong Kong in Britain; he liaises with
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