HKB 175/i
MANAGEMENT IN CONFIDENCE
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From:
R A Burns
Date:
6 February 1991
Cc:
Mr McLaren
14/2
Mr Pau
HKD
Payr
Mr
HONG KONG : BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION
1. I had a long talk with Mr Heap on 5 February. We discussed the following commercial points:
Mastane Mr Furness
| Draft nite
ple
13/2
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
My Stone 22/21 agree.
Mr. laut.
Bost Note
attached 20/2
PADS. He remains frustrated at not being accepted by the Hong Kong Government as a legitimate part of the loop - eg, at being excluded by Sir D Ford from his briefing of the Minister. There is a long history to this. I encouraged him to keep close to Sir D Ford and his new PADS Committee. I promised we would keep him up to speed, providing he was sensible about how he used the information. I promised, more generally, that we would include BTC Hong Kong more consistently as a telegraphic addressee.
Sale of patrol craft to Royal Hong Kong Police. Mr Heap is concerned that, on this defence sale, the playing field will be tilted against British firms because HMG will be unwilling to put onto the Hong Kong Government the kind of political pressure we would put onto any other country contemplating defence purchases. He has briefed two DTI Ministers to raise the issue with the Governor. When I did so, Sir D Wilson expressed great surprise. It was an issue in which he did not expect to be involved, about which he knew nothing, but where he expected normal commercial competitiveness to apply. I pointed out that Vospers could be expected to lobby HMG hard and that HKG should be careful not to antagonise another set of Ministers, this time in MOD. must not stir the pot but it would be helpful to know where matters stand and what political arguments we could legitimately adduce with HKG.
We
Entertainment Allowance. Mr Heap seems to me to have a good case for arguing that his allowance is set far too low for what he is expected to do. I urged him to make a renewed case to me and I would see what I could do. He had better do this promptly so we can get matters sorted out for the next Financial Year.
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MANAGEMENT IN CONFIDENCE
RA Burns
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