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051242 MOLIAN 0933
HKB
027/+
1991
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FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE CANBERRA
TELNO 7
OF 04110OZ APRIL 91
INFO ROUTINE E CO, WELLINGTON, SYDNEY, MELBOURNE
G
YOUR TELNO 7: VISIT TO AUSTRALIA 9
1.
-
15 MAY
THANK YOU FOR THE FURTHER ADVICE IN TUR. MY COMMENTS ON THE VARIOUS POINTS RAISED ARE AS FOLLOWS:-
MELBOURNE
2. I AGREE WITH YOUR PROPOSAL THAT THE ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION
WITH AUSTRALIAN BUSINESSMEN SHOULD INCLUDE TOP PEOPLE FROM ABOUT A DOZEN MAJOR COMPANIES OR BANKS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH AN INTEREST IN HONG KONG. GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD INCLUDE BHP, WHICH IS MAKING A MAJOR NEW INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG, AND NATIONAL MUTUAL, WHICH HAS A VERY SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE HERE. BOTH HAVE THEIR HEADQUARTERS IN MELBOURNE I BELIEVE. ALSO ANZ AND THE NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK. AUSTRALIAN CONSTRUCTION SERVICES AND ACI PILKINGTON ALSO HAVE SIGNIFICANT INTERESTS HERE AND WOULD BE WORTH CONSIDERING.
CANBERRA
3. I AM SORRY THAT I SHALL MISS SEEING THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL, BUT WOULD CERTAINLY BE VERY HAPPY TO ACCEPT SIR WALTER CAMPBELL'S OFFER TO HOST A DINNER AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
4.
ON ACCOMMODATION IN CANBERRA, I HELD FIRE ON THE OFFER BY SIR J COLES TO PUT ME UP, PENDING THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO INVITE ME AS AN OFFICIAL GUEST. NOW THAT THEY HAVE SO DECIDED, GRATEFUL TO KNOW WHERE WE STAND. WOULD THIS MEAN THAT THE AUSTRALIANS INTEND TO OFFER ACCOMMODATION IN CANBERRA? IF SO, WOULD THIS BE AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE (YOUR TELNO 11 OF 1990) DESPITE THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S ABSENCE, OR ELSEWHERE?
SYDNEY
5.
I WOULD CERTAINLY WELCOME A BRIEF MEETING WITH HONG KONG
1
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