Y
Mr Brown, TRED
UNCLASSIFIED
HKK 026/4
RECEIVED IN ROISTRY NO. 51
- 6 AUG 1980
-
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
35
BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION IN HONG KONG
1.
اعا لسلام
I am not sure whether you have seen telegram No CREDA 130 (copy attached) in which DOT ask BTC Hong Kong to prepare an article for a British business magazine on the general economic climate in Hong Kong. In my opinion this is the sort of task which could very easily be undertaken in DOT itself with, ideally, a draft being sent to BTC Hong Kong for their comments. It seems a waste of valuable and expensive time for BTC to undertake this sort of chore when the now depleted staff there are very much under pressure.
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2. As I understand it, the accepted practice is that posts abroad are not asked to do tasks which can be readily performed in London. I wonder if you would be prepared to take this up with DOT as a matter of general policy. At the same time, I should draw your attention to Hong Kong telegram No CREDA 168 which reveals that BTC Hong Kong and Peking are resisting what appears to be a fairly frivolous request. It is a pity that BTC Hong Kong is being pressed to undertake such peripheral duties, and I fear that these exchanges between the post and CRE may reflect a certain amount of bad blood between the two.
1 August 1980
P Morrice
Hong Kong and General Department K247
233 4381
Page 120Page 121
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PP DOT