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It was very significant that Hong Kong had many newspapers
in two languages and that the judiciary was independent.
TRADE
GR said he would like to improve the public image of Hong
Kong in the UK and the UK in Hong Kong. This depended on
trade. He was grateful for the efforts of the MTR group.
He hoped this would continue with China Light and Power and
MTR extension. MM Trade was infinitely the most important
element in Hong Kong/United Kingdom relations. There used
to be a balance of trade but this disappeared in 1963.
Exporters just gave up. Britain's exports to Hong Kong were
four times those of its exports to China. He was encouraged
that Courtaulds thought that with the depreciation of the
pound and appreciation of the yen, there might be scope in
Hong Kong.
MM said that in his view the real problem was the difficulty of persuading anyone in England to take the Hong Kong market seriously. Missions would spend weeks in China because it was
glamorous and then a day in Hong Kong to recover. If they would
spend a week in Hong Kong they would be able to do some serious
business. He could only think that the MTR and China Light
contracts would help not only in producing statistics but also in producing headlines.
HC thought that the size of the Hong Kong market was a point
which was worth making to
to the Secretary of State. GR agreed.
S of S might enquire what work was being attempted and HC would
explain the existence of Hong Kong Trade Advisory Group run by
the Department of Trade.
MM said he doubted whether committees would do much good.
The task was to identify sectors and then invite exporters to
go to Hong Kong to study prospects without having their fares
paid!
SENIOR DS OFFICER
-
GR enquired if it was worth taking another look at
worth taking another look at the desirability
of having a DS Officer in Hong Kong. MM said every now and then
he would like one, but most of the time there would be no work
for him. The main thing was that Secretaries should be made
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