Confederation of British Industry
Centre Point
103 New Oxford Street London WCIA IDU Telephone 071-379 7400 Facsimile 071-836 0645 Telex 21332
From
Sir John Banham Director-General
PERSONAL
APC
27 May 1992
The Rt Hon Christopher Patten
Conservative & Unionist Central Office
32 Smith Square
London SW1P 3HH
For Curs,
Applied by phone.
Would have loved to have attended
but, sadly, diary full."
1J29/4
Ihr Patten, Pagen, Vinte
CBI
114
Qinte apart from the clash
with your existing schedule, I don't thank this is exactly the right
Sorr
of
event
for
you
to attend. The "focus is on "oppormnities for
UK buoniess in China, HK + Taiwan",
UK commercial interests are
and pure
concerns which
you ars Governer need to be
seen to be above.
not this time.
You should of course meet bosses of British commercial concerns in Hong Kay, bur Please accept our heartiest congratulations on your appointment as Governor of Hong Kong, even though you will be greatly missed from domestic politics. Needless to say, the CBI was delighted, not to say relieved, at the outcome of the General Election.
Although it is very short notice, it occurred to me that you might be interested to attend a conference the CBI are holding, in conjunction with the China-Britain Trade Group, here at Centre Point on Thursday, 30 April on the "Greater China Market". This will be chaired by Sir Alan Donald, former Ambassador to China, and you will see from the enclosed leaflet that it will present a great deal of material which will be of value once you are out in Hong Kong. You would also have the opportunity to meet businessmen and academics familiar with the region. Their names are given in the attached list.
You would be most welcome to attend the conference as our guest, for all or part of the time. Perhaps your office could let our Head of Department, Mr Andrew Lawson, know if you are able to come and if so, whether you would like to use the occasion for any purpose of your
own.
With renewed congratulations and best wishes
Yuss,
29/14
-Thr Ridretts agrees.
John M M Banham
!
encl.
HKD 010/1
RECE
INUT
0 8 MAY 1992
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