BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION IN HONG KONG 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
w/oke
Our reference: 5/6 5/26
Your reference:
liss C Welch
Section À
Brunch 3
CRM 2
Department of Trude
1 Victoria Stroot
London SWIN OAT
30 May 1974
Pse see minute
چے
Dear Cherry.
I thought you would be interested to see the enclosed text of a speech by David Jordan which gives an excellent simple man's guide to the strategy of the Hong Kong Budget. More importantly, in my view, it also states the position on the reserves in terms that anyone can understand and that should go a long way to dispelling many of the all too commonly repeated misunderstandings about the extent to which IMG "control" Hong Kong's roserves. It is the first time that I can recall in the two years that I have been here that this has been explained so clearly and fairly by a long long Government official (I have tried my small best to state the position in radio and television interviews within the limits of the briefs I have been able
to get but this is not quite the same thing). It is long overdue, and must be welcomed and indeed I have congratulated David on it. It also illustrates David Jordan's own readiness to put the record straight so far as Britain is concerned and so far as he can without calling into question his own loyalties and I believo him to be readier to do this than most Hong Kong Civil Servants.
A
I have heard many favourable comments about the apooch, including from Government Information Borvicos comparing it with Philip Haddon-Cave's more complientod a reten baldon and style. I have also lieturd à l unid that it further #: bưởngthont David Jordan's rating as possible succombor to Philip Haddon-Cavo. There are rumours around town that Philip may wish to move on in a year or two although David Jordan himself told me only the other evening that he was assuming Philip would be there throughout the remainder of David's own official span and that he, David, had no aspirations to the Financial Secretaryship and was very happy where he was.
cc: A Stuart, HKIOD, FCO MA/yas
>
Your
Tom
A.
T W Aston
Senior Trade Commissioner
Every effort is made to ensure that the information given herein is accurate, but no legal responsibility is accepted for any errors or omis. sions in that information and no responsibility is accepted in regard to the standing of any firms, companies, or individuals mentioned, NOTE-WAL KESTOIMIMILIS INACELETELYTH GANDAG TPTNARNIAK STANDING OF Quruma, pune Olhause
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