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FM PORT MORESBY
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 001
OF 07054OZ JULY 93
INFO PRIORITY FCO
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, ри
HKD 026liquis-15 to HK.
1993
036413
MDLIAN 3585
(95)
VISIT TO HONG KONG BY PNG FOREIGN MINISTER, 28-30 JULY 93.
SUMMARY
1.
PNG FOREIGN MINISTER REQUESTS CALL ON GOVERNOR. RECOMMEND A COURTESY CALL.
DETAIL
2.
JOHN KAPUTIN, CMG, FOREIGN MINISTER SINCE JULY 1992 PROPOSES TO VISIT HONG KONG FROM 28 30 JULY FOLLOWING HIS ATTENDANCE AT THE ASIAN FOREIGN MINISTER'S MEETING
IN SINGAPORE. HE HAS REQUESTED A MEETING WITH GOVERNOR TO EXCHANGE VIEWS ON DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG AND MATTERS OF INTEREST TO BOTH COUNTRIES. THESE WOULD INCLUDE THE RECENTLY AGREED AIR AGREEMENT AND POTENTIAL FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. A NUMBER OF BRITISH COMPANIES CABLE AND WIRELESS, SWIRE GROUP AND MAJOR TRADING HOUSES HAVE LONG STANDING INTERESTS IN PNG AND THE ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF PNG, BASED ON MINERAL AND OIL DEVELOPMENTS, OFFERS GOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCALLY BASED BRITISH COMPANIES. WE NEED TO COUNTER STRONG PUSHES BY FRENCH AND GERMAN INTERESTS, AS WELL AS TRADITIONAL AUSTRALASIAN COMPETITION, IF WE ARE TO WIN ANY SUBSTANTIAL SHARE OF THIS GROWING MARKET.
3
ALTHOUGH KAPUTIN IS SOMETHING OF A MAVERICK EVEN BY PNG STANDARDS, HE REMAINS IMPORTANT. A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM IS CENTRAL TO OUR BI-LATERAL RELATIONS. HE IS A STRONG EXPONENT OF MELANESIAN NATIONALISM AND SENSITIVE ABOUT HIS OWN STATUS AS FOREIGN MINISTER. HE RECENTLY VISITED LONDON WHERE HE MET MR GOODLAD. WE THEREFORE RECOMMEND A COURTESY CALL ON THE GOVERNOR FOLLOWED BY MORE SUBSTANTIAL DISCUSSIONS WITH SENIOR OFFICIALS AND A TOUR OF HONG KONG TO INCLUDE THE AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT ( PNG WILL BE UPGRADING JACKSONS AIRPORT AND PLANS EXIST FOR AN ADDITIONAL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON NEW IRELAND). BRITISH COMPANIES ARE ACTIVELY PURSUING BUSINESS FROM BOTH PROJECTS. THE MINISTER'S PARTY WILL BE A MAXIMUM OF THREE.
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