C.S. 209
УЛАГ І
rage
io.
1.
| Died by- Typed by-
Ag PA
Date 22 August 1983
1.
Hong Kong has no responsibility for its external
But Hong Kong is a very substantial place
affairs.
in a unique geographical and political situation.
Practuel It has therefore been given a measure of autonomy
in the conduct of its external affairs, especially
commercial affairs.
2.
In the political field, there is a small office
in the Secretariat, that of the Political Adviser,
staffed by three members of the British Diplomatic
Service on loan to the Hong Kong Government. They
deal with a range of foreign affairs problems,
offering advice to departments of the Hong Kong
Government dealing with subjects which have an
external dimension. In particular, in the past year
the PA's office has been engaged in assisting the
Governor in (many) aspects of the negotiations over
Hong Kong's future. The Political Adviser's office
is also the principal point of contact on political
issues between the Hong Kong Government and the
Commonwealth & resident representatives of foreign governments in
Hong Kong.
The Political Adviser's office has helped set up
a wide range of direct contacts between branches of
the Hong Kong administration and their counterparts
in Guangdong Province. Extensive and useful liaison
now exists on such widely varying subjects as
immigration, border security, environmental problems,
the construction of new border crossing points, post
and telecommunications, and water supplies.
/4.