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Mr Loga
POD
Mr Williamso
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HK&GD
STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
Reference
Mr Murray
W.E. Quantill
18/4
Mr D F Murray, AUSS, has called for a brief on the staffing of the British Trade Commission Hong Kong, including the establishment of the new China Trade Section
1.
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2. I attach a staff list. Mr March is at present on Leave and Mr George Burgess is in charge. Mr Burgess
new post responsible for the day-to-day co-ordinating of major projects both in Hong Kong and mainland China, particularly the China Light and Power project. He is a very experienced commercial officer and a pleasant colleague. Mr March has slight reserv· ations about leaving Mr Burgess in charge for a long period. Mrs Burgess does not enjoy good health. Mr J T Morrison is a mild mannered Scot, concerned to give his best and conscientious almost to a fault. A most agreeable colleague and an excellent commercial officer. Mr John Orr is a genial bachelor who, as an ex-journalist, has spent most of his career in inform- ation work. However he has also demonstrated a flair for commercial work. He is an expert of some note in the field of sea-shell collecting and an accomplished skin-diver. He is due to Leave Hong Kong in early 1980 and we are considering replacing him with an officer from the Department of Trade. Mr
Mr Petty joined the DS in 1967 from the Lord Chancellor's office and in his com- paratively short career has proved to be a conscientious and competent officer. He will stay in Hong Kong until his retirement in 1981.
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3. One of the difficulties in our efforts to the support we give to British exporters in China has been the Chinese failure to supply more accommodation to our Embassy in Peking. Thus the China Trade Unit in Hong Kong is being established to deal with China Trade matters which arise in Hong Kong. It will probably also have first line responsibility for trade with much of Southern China, including notably the Canton Trade Fairs. The Ambassador in Peking will have first call on the services of the Unit but it will be subject to the direction of the Senior British Trade Commissioner in Hong Kong for administrative purposes.
4.
The Unit will be headed by Mr P A B Thomson, DS5, a Late entrant from the Royal Navy and the Service's only speaker of both Mandarin and Cantonese. He will attend the Canton Trade Fair in October and set up shop in Hong Kong thereafter. He will in due course be supported by /Mr R S M Willatt
CODE 18-77
SS 8/78
STAFF IN CONFIDENCE