Reference.
bile
with
Mr R H Davies
(Personnel Services Dept)
FESTIVAL OF ARTS, HONG KONG
1.
Mr Aston has sent me a copy of his letter to you of 2 January asking for help with entertainment in the course of the Hong Kong Festival of Arts.
2. Hong Kong Department strongly support this request. Mr Aston is, indeed, in a difficult position in Hong Kong in that he is the senior specifically British representative there and has to keep on terms with the Consuls-General of other countries who are treate in all respects as heads of mission. Mr Aston cannot have identical status because the Governor of Hong Kong is The Queen's representative as well as the head of the Hong Kong Government. But, as Mr Aston says, if British visitors come to the Colony he is expected to contribute to their entertainment in most respects as if he was an independent mission. Hence his reasonable request.
12 January 1973
DCB15
A C Stuart
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department
DD 897261 230443 500 5/92 GM 3643/2