THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1979
HK'S INFORMATION EFFORT TO BE STRENGTHENED IN BRITAIN
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THE GOVERNMENT HAS DRAWN UP A PLAN, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR, TO STRENGTHEN THE HONG KONG OFFICE IN LONDON AND IMPROVE +OUR INFORMATION EFFORT IN BRITAIN GENERALLY.+
THIS WAS STATED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE SECRETARY FOR
INFORMATION, MR. DAVID FORD, AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ZONTA CLUB.
IN HIS TALK HONG KONG 1984, + MR. FORD SAID HE HOPED TO SEE THE PLAN IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR AND AFTER THAT +WE MUST THEN TURN OUR ATTENTION TO EUROPE AND THE STATES TO SEE WHETHER MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THOSE PLACES.+
MR. FORD POINTED OUT THAT INCREASINGLY HONG KONG'S ABILITY TO PROSPER IN WORLD MARKETS DURING THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THE DEGREE OF UNDERSTANDING OF HONG KONG'S SITUATION AND ITS PROBLEMS THAT WE COULD MANAGE TO ACHIEVE IN INFLUENTIAL CENTRES OF INTERNATIONAL OPINION.
+TO THOSE OF US WHO CARE ABOUT HONG KONG THE PROBLEM OF ITS IMAGE OVERSEAS IS ALWAYS WITH US FOR THAT IMAGE CAN HAVE A SERIOUS AFFECT UPON THE WAY HONG KONG IS REGARDED BY PEOPLE WHO MAKE DECISIONS WHICH AFFECT ITS FUTURE IN ECONOMIC OR POLITICAL TERMS,+ HE EXPLAINED.
+HOWEVER HARD WE TRY TO PRESENT A BALANCED PICTURE THROUGH THE MEDIA - AND WE MUST TRY HARD - THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PERSONAL
CONTACT AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE,+ MR. FORD EMPHASISED.
THAT WAS WHY, HE ADDED IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR HONG KONG TO BRING HERE, PEOPLE WHO WERE IN A POSITION TO INFLUENCE OUR FUTURE EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY. WHY THEY SHOULD SEE HONG KONG AS IT REALLY IS, WARTS AND ALL, AND TALK TO REAL HONG KONG PEOPLE AND FORM THE IR OWN OPINIONS FROM FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE.
+WE ARE SOMETIMES CRITICISED FOR SPENDING TAX PAYERS' MONEY BY BRINGING PEOPLE HERE. IN MY VIEW IT IS MONEY WELL SPENT, MR. FORD SAID.
TURNING TO THE QUESTION OF LOCAL OPINION, MR. FORD SAID HE WOULD EXPECT TO SEE MORE CONCERN WITH COMMUNITY PROBLEMS DURING THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND A GREATER WILLINGNESS TO BECOME INVOLVED IN THEM.
HE ALSO THINKS THERE WOULD BE MORE INTEREST BY THE COMMUNITY IN THE PROCESS AND STYLE OF GOVERNMENT.
+PERHAPS