- 5-
530
B71
川
J7
181
FC
4
It was something of a shock to find one's arrival and reception. at Hong Kong airport much slower, less efficient and less friendly than at Tokyo : and to be looked up in a suspect list both on arrival and departure !
11.
No doubt Derek Brinson, whom I met in Hong Kong, will have been considering this problem. I certainly would have thought that in present circumstances, where Britain's position in Hong Kong can't be taken for granted, a considerable general Information effort was fully justified, and indeed highly desirable, even if this may present constitutional and organisational problems, as
well as financial. Aston told me that his proposals for new offices include a recommendation that there should be space at ground-floor level for a display area for projection-of-Britain purposes:
but that this has not yet been approved. I would
most respectfully urge that it should be. It does seem odd that within a few yards of the Trade Commission's present offices there is a really good display of photographs and material about China, whereas, as I understand it, Britain has nothing in any way comparable in Hong Kong, where, it would appear, the view that Britain has fallen into an incurable decline is now pretty deeply rooted.
12. In the same order of ideas, by the purest chance my cousin Paul Reilly and I were in Hong Kong together. I found that he was very keen to mount a British Design Exhibition there and that he had strong support for the idea from local personalities, notably that remarkable and formidable woman Mrs. Susan Yuen. Aston warmly supports the suggestion and the Governor also told me that he thought it was an excellent one. I know that it is established Board of Trade/DTI doctrine that exhibitions of British Design abroad are of no commercial interest. With the very greatest respect, I have always found this view altogether baffling.
I feel sure that in present circumstances in Hong Kong, where all-round standards are rising rapidly, an exhibition of British Design would admirably serve the double purpose of export promotion and projection of a Britain that is by no means in decline.
I greatly hope that all concerned will give a fair wind to the proposal which Paul Reilly will, I believe, be putting forward on his return to London.
13.
I was surprised to be told by Aston that his tour in Hong Kong without home leave is two years. Considering his responsibilities, the unremitting pressure of work and the climate of Hong Kong, this does seem to me a very long tour. Aston made a strong plea for a duty visit to the U.K. during a tour, which he thought would be much more useful all round than tacking on a period of duty to
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