IS
3.
HKK 6/548/1 (1974)
14KK 4/548/14
IS
Sir Antony Tari, K.C.B., M.B.E.
Permanent Secretary
Sir Patrick Reilly GCMG OBE 9-13 King William Street London EC4P 4HS
DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY
1 VICTORIA STREET
LONDON SW 1
01-222 7977
PA
The Col
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15 November 1973
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Dan Paveik
I'm so
sorry not to have been able to reply before this to your letter of 31 October about the recent London Chamber of Commerce and Industry mission which you led to Japan and Hong Kong. It is most helpful to have such a full account of your impressions.
success and
We had already heard from Tokyo that the mission had been a that several members will be returning to the Far East shortly to follow up on the business contacts which were established during the visit. As you say, it was a down to earth, hard well mission. How the original idea of a more policy orientated, higher level mission got lost I don't know. But, as you point out, such a mission has to be hand picked in this case by the London Chamber; the normal recruitment method will not usually produce that kind of membership.
You mention a form which has to be filled up. This form is in fact a London Chamber form which they have devised to help them collate the various reports which we in DTI need from each member on the result of his visit. It may be that many of the questions on the form are not rolevant for your report. Could I suggest that you have a word with the Chamber about this and see what the best way would be of setting oui your report in the circumstances?..
In your remarks about' Tokyo and Osaka you rightly refer to the problem ? of staffing. In view of the pressure of work which we have been heaping upon them, there has been an emergency inspection of the Commercial Department. You will be glad to know that the Department is being strengthened with two more commercial officers.
As for the idea of an exhibition of British Design in Hong Kong, Ve shall look forward to seeing Paul's proposals. The difficulty tends to be that unless such an exhibition can be effectively linked to export possibilities it is of limited value, You may like to know, incident- ally, that we have been wanting to put on an exhibition in a department- store in Tokyo of good British design, and the exhibitions manager of the COID was recently in Japan with a design mission. Naturally, the project for an exhibition of this sort has to be "sold" to the depart- ment store; they need to be convinced that it is a commercial attraction and I am sure that is right. As I say, we will 'awûit Paul'
ideas.
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CC
Mirs Lackey -
Mr Peane
Mr PCA Warghild