Ра
02,APR 1991
CONFIDENTIAL
15
HKB 340 / 1
FROM: A R PAUL
PS/Lord Caithness
ан
/22/44
Hong Kong Department
DATE: 28 March 1991
cc: Sir J Coles
Mr Burns ofr
to meet Grahan Bright 1.
happy to
ANGLO/HONG KONG TRUST LUNCH
1.
син
discuss this & othe issues. As arrange /1⁄2 hu slob.
ей
Lands.
Lord Caithness might appreciate a brief comment on the
four points raised at the lunch, recorded in Mr Bright's wtached minute of 13 March.
2. Point 1: the need for a positive signal of the UK's
permanent interest in Hong Kong. This can best be provided by an early announcement of our intention to construct a
suitably prestigious Consulate-General building. As the Minister is aware, this is in hand, but we have the Chinese
obstacle to surmount.
3.
Point 2: China's MFN status: We lobbied the US
Administration intensively last year, pointing out the damage that China's loss of MFN status would do to Hong
Kong. We are ready to do so again this year, and the Prime
Minister has already had a word with President Bush (see my
separate submission on this subject).
4. Point 3: the importance of Hong Kong as a stepping stone
for South China. We recognise this. As a mark of the importance we attach to South China, we have recently
upgraded the head of the China Trade Unit, based in the
British Trade Commission in Hong Kong. He is Counsellor rank and has extensive experience of Hong Kong. He should be well-placed to develop awareness in the UK of the
potential of South China and Hong Kong's role in this.
5.
Point 4: a politician rather than a diplomat should be
WADAAG/1
CONFIDENTIAL