CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Stuart
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department
w17
:
(M Coombe)!
but this is normally Ime. HK govt am's
The
HONG KONG: SIR PATRICK REILLY
1.
I have only returned in the last few days from Brussels and seen the minutes on Sir Patrick Reilly's letter about his visit to Hong Kong.
2.
I am not sure that you are not being a little unfair to Mr Aston in some of your remarks about him, although he is certainly much preoccupied with the awkward position in which he finds himself and the way in which he sometimes feelse is not sufficiently consulted and is something of a poor relation.
He is also very conscious that he and his staff are the only straight representatives of Britain and HMG in the Colony.
3. But he certainly does not hanker, I think, after "the status and style of a Head of Mission" And, much more important, relations between his Information Officer, Mr Coombe, and officials of the Hong Kong Government are extremely good. He took me to call on some of them, especially Mr Cator, the Home Secretary, with whom I had a good hour and a half's talk. He is doing, so far as I could judge in a stay of two days, extremely well.
4. This said, I think that the problems have probably been exaggerated. Mr Aston is certainly rather inclined to dramatise. Thus when I subsequently discussed the problem, rather briefly I am afraid, with Sir Murray MacLehose, he agreed with me that what was really needed was a bit of give and take on each side and that there was no reason why the Trade Commission should not put out material about Britain's performance and policies after consultation with the appropriate officials in the Government. I think that it might also be suggested which I did not do that businessmen and other visitors might be steered by the Hong Kong Government in Mr Aston's direction, wherever this would seem to be to their advantage
sae Br. buscare
5.
-
It has been suggested that we might have a meeting to discuss all this. If you think it would be useful, I should be more than ready to attend.
Copies to:
Chief Clerk
JnBrinson
(D N Brinson)
Guidance and Information Policy Department
Sir Duncan Watson CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Wilford/
Mr Youde
Mr Reddaway Mr Lamb
29 November 1973 PS to PUS
DD 145177 219242 500M 4/73 GM 3643/2