Mr Allan, OID
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HKK 24/7. TASCARVES IN PAJISTKY NO. $1 2 8 AUG 1979
ISTRY
HONG KONG INFORMATION
1.
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سلام
30/3
Before going on leave, Mr McLaren passed me your minute of 11 June, and asked me to apologise on his behalf that he had been prevented by more pressing matters from commenting earlier on your report of your visit to Hong Kong.
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2. This appears to have been a valuable and worthwhile working visit and we certainly endorse most of your conclusions. only query is over the role of Mr March in projecting British policies. Constitutionally, Mr March is in a very odd position since, although he is sent to Hong Kong to work for BMG, he is not answerable to HM Representative in the territory, the Governor. This anomalous position causes no problem so long as Mr March sticks strictly to the job of promoting British exports. But it would be quite improper for him to start, however dis- creetly, promoting wider British policies, above all in areas where there is a divergence of opinion between the British and Hong Kong Governments. Mr March is, I am sure, well aware of this. But he sometimes finds the constraint irksome, particularly when Britain is under fire in Hong Kong over some subject and his contacts naturally look to him for an explanation of British policies. Nonetheless, it remains the position that he should not get involved in matters of Anglo-Hong Kong economic and political relations. Any information that is sent to him on these subjects must be strictly for his own background information.
3. This position will of course change if your discussion with Mr Ford does lead to the Hong Kong Government's agreeing that Mr March should undertake some unattributable briefing of the local press. But my understanding hitherto has been that the Governor is firmly opposed to this, and is only prepared to tolerate the existence of a British Trade Commission in Hong Kong provided this is clearly understood. No doubt you will let us know if the position changes.
24 August 1979
WE Quantrill
Hong Kong and General Department K247
233 4381
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