On transport, Hong Kong plan to hire a minibus for the arrival of the main party on 17 April and for departure at the end of the visit; any requirement for a minibus has to be identified in advance and there is a 3 hour minimum hire charge for each occasion (HK$ 180 per hour). I have now transmitted to Hong Kong and Peking your comments regarding the need for the provision of transport which would provide more comfort for Committee Members on longer journeys, and I think that it would probably be better for general transport arrangements to be made on an ad hoc basis.
Mr Parkinson will discuss with the Hong Kong Government whether there will be a need for simultaneous interpretation facilities. They would cost HK$ 3300 per 3 hour session, plus HK$ 1500 for each additional hour if the venue is to be a the former LegCo Chamber in the Central Government Offices.
Visiting cards are frequently presented or exchanged in Hong Kong and the advice is that Members' normal visiting cards (as MPs) would suffice for this purpose. There is no need to have them translated into Cantonese. I am also seeking advice from Peking on this matter.
I will let you have further information in due course regarding gifts and of any local customs of which the Committee should be aware.
Yous
Sylvia
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Miss Marsden, HKD Mrs C Smith, FED Mr R Parkinson, BTC
Hong Kong
Mr S Riordan, Peking
S F Bailey (Miss) Parliamentary Relations Unit