XN000022-1979-10-03 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1979

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MR. DORWARD POINTED OUT THAT THE PROBLEMS INHERENT IN WORLD TRADE, INCLUDING PROTECTIONISM, SHOWED NO SIGNS OF DIMINISHING AND IT WOULD BE NECESSARY FOR HONG KONG TO EXTEND THE COVERAGE OF THE PRESENT REPRESENTATION BEYOND THE TWO MAJOR MARKETS OF THE U.S. AND EEC.

+ IT MAY BE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT OUR WASHINGTON OFFICE CAN BE EXPANDED, SO THAT IT CAN COVER ON A REGULAR BASIS OTHER COUNTRIES IN NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA WHERE FULL TIME REPRESENTATION WOULD NOT AT THIS TIME BE JUSTIFIED, BUT WHERE THE NEED FOR CONSULTATION, LIAISON AND INFORMATION GATHERING IS INCREASINGLY APPARENT.

*LIKEWISE THE DISTANCES INVOLVED WOULD MAKE IT RELATIVELY EASY FOR A REINFORCED LONDON OFFICE TO COVER ON A SIMILAR BASIS IMPORTANT NON-EEC EUROPEAN COUNTRIES LIKE AUSTRIA, SWEDEN, NORWAY AND FINLAND, SAID MR. DORWARD.

UNITY OF

COLLABORATION WITH DEVELOPING COUNTRIES MIGHT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL INPUTS OF EITHER HOME OR OVERSEAS BASED STAFF. PURPOSE AMONG THE RELATIVELY WEAK COULD GREATLY STRENGTHEN THEIR DEFENCES.

+I BELIEVE THAT CIRCUMSTANCES AND GOOD SENSE DICTATE THAT HONG KONG MUST, WITHIN ITS MODEST MEANS IN TERMS OF RESOURCES AND MANPOWER, EXTEND ITS OFFICIAL REPRESENTATION ABROAD.

+ IN THE PAST HONG KONG HAS, INEVITABLY PERHAPS, BEEN ESSENTIALLY IN THE BUSINESS OF REACTING TO SITUATIONS AS THEY AROSE. THIS WILL ALWAYS BE THE CASE, BUT THE CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES OF WORLD TRADE WILL, IN MY VIEW, REQUIRE US TO PUT MORE EFFORT INTO IDENTIFYING LIKELY FUTURE THREATS TO HONG KONG'S TRADE AND PROSPERITY- SEEKING TO INFLUENCE THEM BEFORE THEY MATERIAL ISE- AND TACKLING THEM PROMPTLY AND FORCEFULLY WHEN THEY HAPPEN, MR. DORWARD SAID.

SIR JACK CATER VISITS LEI YUE MUN FIRE VICTIMS

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THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR JACK CATER, THIS (WEDNESDAY)

AFTERNOON PAID A SPECIAL VISIT TO THE LEI YUE MUN FIRE VICTIMS.

MORE THAN 2 400 PEOPLE WERE MADE HOMELESS IN THE FIRE WHICH RAGED FOR ABOUT FIVE HOURS AND DESTROYED SOME 400 SQUATTER HUTS AT LING NAM NEW VILLAGE. NO ONE WAS INJURED.

SIR JACK WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR. MORRIS MORGAN,

HE SPOKE TO SOME OF THE FIRE VICTIMS AND EXPRESSED HIS SYMPATHY TO THEM. AMONG THE VICTIMS WAS A GROUP OF OLD PEOPLE WHOSE MONASTERY HAD BEEN GUTTED. SIR JACK SAID SPECIAL CONSIDERATION WOULD BE GIVEN TO THEM IN VIEW OF THEIR OLD AGE AND WAY OF LIFE.

/SIR JACK.....