XN000022-1974-01-18 — Page 9

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Friday, January 18, 1974

A veteran Canadian diplomat, Mr. Smith has been the Secretary General of the Commonwealth since 1965 when the Secretariat was set up.

While here, Mr. Smith will meet local people closely connected

with Commonwealth affairs. He has met the Governor, Sir Murray MacLehose,

and other senior government officials. He will leave for New Zealand on

Sunday (January 20).

After the Commonwealth Games, the Secretary General and Mrs. Smith

will fly to the Caribbeans to attend the Independence Day of Granada on

February 7 before returning to London.

He said that there was a need for closer co-operation between Common- wealth countries since the pattern in the conduct of world affairs was changing. It was particularly so in the fields of technology, export development and in the training of legislation draftsmen. Special projects to meet these needs are already embarked on by the Commonwealth Secretariat, he said. He added that Hong Kong had contributed a great deal in Commonwealth co-operation and benefited from it too.

He described Hong Kong as an exciting and dynamic city and was impressed by the developments since his last visit about ten years ago.

Note to Editors:

Copies of Mr. Smith's photograph are boxed

for collection.

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