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6 SEP 1983
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17
Aution Tukart
KSP
FROM: R D CLIFT, HKD
DATE: 2 September 1983
HONG KONG: LETTER FROM MR NICHOLAS WINTERTON MP
PROBLEM
1.
How to reply to Mr Winterton's letter of 25 August, enclosing
one from Mrs M C Farley, whose husband is apparently employed in
the Civil Aviation Department of the Hong Kong Government.
RECOMMENDATION
2. I recommend that Mr Luce reply on the lines of the attached
draft.
BACKGROUND AND ARGUMENT
3. As Mr Winterton says, it is difficult to understand many of
the points that Mrs Farley is making. But her letter is basically
a catalogue of complaints about life in Hong Kong. Most of these
relate to the differences in the environment and way of life between England and Hong Kong. This suggests that Mr and Mrs.
Farley did not take the trouble to familiarise themselves with
Hong Kong before taking up employment there. She also makes
vague references to accommodation problems, which are a matter
between the Farleys and the Hong Kong Government.
4. The Hong Kong Government Office in London organise briefing sessions for new recruits from the UK and are always willing to
provide further information on life in the territory. However,
many people, particularly those with little experience of living
abroad, initially find it hard to settle down in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Government's experience is that the people who
get most out of being in Hong Kong are those who are prepared to
take advantage of the many positive things that Hong Kong has
to offer.
Bip
R D Clift
2 September 1983
RESTRICTED
Hong Kong Department