Our reference: 6/6/5 INDIV.
Your reference: HK K 6/548/3
PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION IN HONG KONG Mr. Stewart
7th Floor, Shell House, Queen's Road, Central, HONG KONG Mail Address: P.O. Box No. 528, Hong Kong Cable Address: "Uktrade Hongkong" Telephone- 230176
R&R Bunny,
I shall have to reply to This Woned Pit. Gammara plse comider the points made
about Dr. Heath's
13 January, 1970. visit. I thought-
Many thanks for your most interesting letter
that this was
quite
powvate and it sumpor To learn that the H.K. Gort; was responsible for his whole
programme of 30 December.
I think perhaps that if we exchange letters when there is something specific to discuss, this may be more useful than regular newsletters.
21 enclose a number of cuttings from the local English language press about the visit of Mr. Edward Heath to Hong Kong although you may have received these from other sources.
3. I would, however, like to quote this as another rather flagrant example of this office being ignored. When I heard of Mr. Heath's visit, I made a point of telling everyone likely to be concerned that I would like the opportunity of meeting him.
4. My interest was two-fold. Firstly I know Mr. Heath personally as I worked with him in Brussels for a short time when we were making our first attempt to get into the Common Market. Secondly, and of course of much more importance, I consider that the Leader of the Opposition, who may well be Prime Minister one day, and who has stated publicly that one of the chief purposes of this tour was to study the opportunities for British trade in this part of the world, should have been given the opportunity to meet the members of the British Trade Commission in Hong Kong so that he could be briefed about the potentiality of this market.
J
5. Despite all my efforts and I cannot see what more I could have done short of gatecrashing a party given for him I was never invited at any time during the visit to meet Mr. Heath. Whether this was due to an oversight (which in view of my insistence is unlikely) or to a deliberate attempt to keep me out of the picture I would not like to say but if this sort of thing continues my position here will become difficult and severely limit my usefulness.
6.I have no personal vanity in the matter at all but if, as a senior United Kingdom official I am to be ignored by the Hong Kong Government on occasions such as these where
W. S. Carter, Esq.,
Hong Kong Department,
Foreign & Commonwealth office, London, S.W.1.
LAST
P
62 brew
REF.
PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
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