CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 1989
OF 261014Z JUNE 90
CONFIDENTIAL
073467
MDLIAN 1676
HKB 020/25
Ver
1990
Q DIST 2
TOP COPY
PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR
-0
YOUR TELNO 1181: EMBASSY INVOLVEMENT IN HONG KONG'S EXTERNAL RELATIONS
·
1 WE, TOO, HAVE BEEN GIVING THOUGHT TO THE PRESENTATIONAL AND ORGANISATIONAL ASPECTS OF HOW SENIOR HKG VISITS ARE HANDLED IN CO- OPERATION BETWEEN EMBASSIES AND OUR ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICERS (ETOS). AS IS SO OFTEN THE CASE WITH THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG, A GOOD DEAL OF THE PRACTICE HAS EVOLVED IN A PRAGMATIC AND AD HOC MANNER. THIS HAS DONE NO HARM. IT HAS ENABLED US TO ADJUST OUR OWN REQUIREMENTS TO FIT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE PARTICULAR VISIT. NEVERTHELESS, SOME GENERAL PRINCIPLES CAN PROBABLY BE IDENTIFIED.
2. OUR GENERAL AIM IS OF COURSE TO MAKE CLEAR HONG KONG'S AUTONOMY IN TRADE AND ECONOMIC MATTERS. AGAINST THIS WE MUST RECOGNISE THE EMBASSY'S LEGITIMATE AND HELPFUL ROLE IN HELPING WITH ASPECTS OF ANY VISIT WHICH GOES BEYOND ECONOMIC/TRADE MATTERS INTO THE AREA OF FOREIGN POLICY, WHICH IS HMG'S PRESERVE. WE HAVE THE FURTHER OBJECTIVE OF TRYING TO BUILD UP THE ROLE OF OUR ETOS WHEREVER THESE
ARE ESTABLISHED.
3. FOR MY OWN ACCOMMODATION (OR THAT OF OTHER SENIOR HKG VISITORS) ON OVERSEAS VISITS, THERE CAN, I AM SURE, BE NO HARD AND FAST RULE. WE HAVE TO ADJUST TO LOCAL CONDITIONS. FOR INSTANCE, ON MY VISITS TO TOKYO I STAY NA HOTEL BECAUSE I TRAVEL WITH A LARGE TRADE DELEGATION. IN OTTAWA I STAYED IN A GUEST HOUSE BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THE CANADIANS WANTED. IN WASHINGTON AND BONN I HAVE STAYED AT THE AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE WITHOUT, I THINK, CAUSING ANY PRESENTATIONAL PROBLEMS IN EITHER CASE EXCLAM.
4. AS A GENERAL PRINCIPLE WE ARE ALWAYS EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE HELP THAT THE EMBASSIES GIVE US IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT PARTICULAR NUANCES LOCAL CONDITIONS MAY THEN IMPOSE. ON ECONOMIC AND TRADE RELATIONS WE WOULD ASK EMBASSIES TO UNDERSTAND OUR CONCERNS ABOUT EMPHASISING OUR AUTONOMY AND THEREFORE TO AGREE TO STEP INTO THE
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