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a total of 94,000 people nearly 14,000 are employed in the United Kingdom.
The Foreign Secretary lunched with the Hong Kong Association last week and nearly everybody present independently stressed the importance of Parliament and the U.K. Government's understanding the extent and scope of British interests in Hong Kong and the importance of building up the British Mission there, both before and after 1997.
The Hong Kong Association has arranged for the Permanent Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Sir Patrick Wright, to lunch with us on 28th March and in anticipation of this we in Jardines are doing independently a detailed study to see if there is any correlation between the staffing of British Missions overseas and the level of British commercial activity.
As a first stage we intend to choose three countries with similar populations as Hong Kong, namely
We will then look New Zealand, Austria and Switzerland. at British investment in these countries compared with
two-way trade figures; invisibles, capital Hong Kong; movements; and the attitude (helpful or hostile) of the Government to British commerce of the host nations.
We will then compare these four countries including Hong Kong, with the F.C.0. grade of the Ambassador or High Commissioner, the number of
Councillors, first secretaries and other staff grades
deployed. Finally we will look at the scope and style of the Ambassador's residence and chancellery.
We do not wish to pre-judge this survey, but I would be surprised if it did not show a strong case for further Foreign Office resources being made available for Hong Kong.
I very much look forward to seeing you on my
forthcoming visit.
Best personal regards.
Yours ever,
HENRY
HENRY KESWICK
P.W. Heap Esq., C.M.G.,
British Senior Trade Commissioner,
British Trade Commission,
9th Floor,
Bank of America Tower,
HONG KONG.