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British Trade Commission in Hong Kong
9th Floor Gammon House 12 Harcourt Road Hong Kong
Mail Address PO Box No 528 Hong Kong
Telex HX 73031
Cable Address Uktrade Hong Kong Telephone 5-230176
(wling)
C. W. Roberts, Esq., CRE 4,
Department of Trade,
Victoria Street.
Your reference
Our reference
Date 6 July, 1977
can Christopher,
Thank you for your letter of 24 June asking whether I could get hold of a copy of Jeremy Hardie's report on the Hong Kong economy.
2.
I had not heard of this report but asked Adrian Smith of the F C 0's Economists Department, who is visiting Hong Kong, whether he knew anything about it. He tells me that the report was commissioned by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank and Swires, with the blessing of the Governor. It has, as you say, been submitted to the Hong Kong Government but is presently resting in the middle It has not of a massive in-tray awaiting Philip Haddon-Cave's return from leave.
When I call on Philip Haddon-Cave I will ask yet been seen by the Governor. whether I could receive a copy but Adrian Smith tells me that a copy exists in the Central Statistics Office in London. This is because Jeremy Hardie had to seek help from the CSO for his contribution on our invisibles trade with Hong
Smith also suggests that the main Kong and felt obliged to give the CSO a copy. outline of Hardie's findings are known to Haley in the FCO's Economists Department.
3. I am most grateful for news of Francis Tien's visit to UK on behalf of the Hong Kong textile lobby. I shall shortly be writing to you about my concern that I have not received a single piece of background information about the progress of the MFA discussions or of the British negotiating position. I found it very embarrassing last week to be invited to dinner by Bill Dorward, Acting Director of Commerce and Industry, for a confrontation with an angry Hong Kong lobby with no defensive material. I think there is a serious gap in the telegram distribution system with whoever in Brussels or London is drafting guidance and progress reports is copying them for information to Hong Kong (with the result that they go to the Hong Kong Government) rather than to the BTC Hong Kong(with the result that they come to me). I shall shortly be writing on this general question to Overseas Information Department with a copy to Jimmy Mellon in TRED asking whether they could check that the originators are aware that the BTC and the Hong Kong Government are quite separate organisations. I am sure you will agree that while I have no wish to get involved in the day-to-day brushes over the MFA it is essential that I have a comprehensive defensive brief. the moment I find it quite impossible to give any sensible response to private questioning about the kind of article which appeard in the Hong Kong Standard on 25 June (see enclosure).
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D. M March
Senior British Trade Commissioner
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year ago. Dia. 117.
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