RESTRICTED
FM BTC HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 13140OZ OTI
TELNO OTTER 275
OF 13113OZ DECEMBER 90
INFO IMMEDIATE FCO
INFO ROUTINE TOKYO
DTI FOR OT2/2
56
RESTRICTED
HKB 026/9
RECEIVED
026/
14 DEC 1990
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
ENTER
74
012467
MDHIAN 4186
17/12
Mary's (fi)
Only cop
MIPT VISIT OF SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY
1.
的
THE PROPOSALS IN YOUR TELNO OTTER 315 ARE MORE THAN CAN BE SQUEEZED INTO A TWO WORKING DAY PROGRAMME. TO EASE THE PRESSURE I HAVE SUGGESTED THE HELICOPTER TOUR ON THE MORNING OF SUNDAY 20 JANUARY BUT THAT COULD BE RE-ARRANGED FOR THE FOLLOWING DAY IF PREFERRED. WE HAVE NOT APPROACHED ANY OF THE PEOPLE CONCERNED SO SOME JUGGLING AND SUBSTITUTION MAY BE NECESSARY. GRATEFUL HOWEVER FOR URGENT APPROVAL FOR THE PROGRAMME AS PROPOSED AND PARTICULARLY FOR COMMENTS ONT HE ALTERNATIVES SUGGESTED.
2. MR LILLEY'S SPEECH SHOULD RECEIVE GOOD COVERAGE. THERE WILL BE CONSIDERABLE INTEREST IN THE GATT TALKS AND THE AUDIENCE WILL BE REASONABLE WELL INFORMED. THEY WILL OF COURSE BE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THOSE ASPECTS OF MOST DIRECT CONCERN TO HONG KONG, ESPECIALLY TEXTILES. A SECTION ON EUROPE AND 1992 WOULD BE WELCOME: THE BREAKDOWN OF THE GATT TALKS AND EUROPE'S POSITION ON AGRICULTURAL SUBSIDIES HAS REKINDLED FEARS ABOUT FORTRESS EUROPE. THE SPEECH MIGHT ALSO REFER TO BRITAIN AND HONG KONG'S STRONG TRADE LINKS PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE AND DISPEL ANY NOTION THAT BRITISH COMPANIES AND BRITISH EXPORTERS ESTABLISHED IN HONG KONG REGARD IT AS A SUNSET MARKET. EXPRESSIONS OF CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG'S FUTURE WILL OF COURSE BE IMPORTANT.
3. THE PROPOSED PROGRAMME SUBSTANTIALLY FOLLOWS THE PROPOSALS IN YOUR TELNO OTTER 305. THERE ARE MANY OTHER POSSIBILITIES. ONE MIGHT BE A MEETING WITH BRITISH BANKERS, SINCE WE ARE PARTICULARLY STRONG IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR HERE, FOR A DISCUSSION ON HOW THEY SEE DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG. ANOTHER MIGHT BE A MEETING WITH A GROUP OF IMPORTERS OF BRITISH GOODS TO HEAR THEIR VIEWS OF BRITISH EXPORT PERFORMANCE. THESE PROBABLY COULD ONLY BE INSERTED BY DROPPING EXISTING ITEMS IN THE
PROGRAMME.
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