XN000022-1980-01-23 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1980

BRITISH TRADE SECRETARY ARRIVES ON SATURDAY ******

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRADE, THE RT HON JOHN NOTT, MP WILL ARRIVE IN HONG KONG ON SATURDAY (JANUARY 26) FOR A FIVE-DAY VISIT FOLLOWING VISITS TO JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA.

ONE OF THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF HIS TOUR OF THE FAR EAST, AS ANNOUNCED IN BRITAIN, IS TO EXPLORE FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE EXCHANGE OF TECHNOLOGY.

DURING HIS STAY HERE, MR NOTT WILL HAVE TALKS WITH THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND THE SENIOR BRITISH TRADE COMMISSIONER. HE WILL ALSO MEET MEMBERS OF THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, THE TEXTILES AND TRADE AND INDUSTRY ADVISORY BOARDS, UMELCO MEMBERS, AS WELL AS LEADING BRITISH BUSINESSMEN IN HONG KONG.

HE WILL ATTEND A LUNCHEON WITH MEMBERS OF THE HK GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND WILL MAKE A PUBLIC SPEECH.

MR NOTT WILL ALSO INSPECT THE NEW POWER STATION DEVELOPMENT AT TAP SHEK KOK, AND TAKE A RIDE ON THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY TO KOWLOON BAY DEPOT WHERE HE WILL MEET MEMBERS OF THE MTRC BOARD. THE PROGRAMME ALSO INCLUDES A VISIT TO AN ELECTRONICS FACTORY.

BOTH THE MTR AND THE NEW POWER STATION PROJECTS HAVE HAD IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION FROM BRITISH INDUSTRIAL FIRMS AND THE IR TECHNICAL EXPERTS.

MR NOTT HAD PREVIOUSLY VISITED HONG KONG WITH TWO OTHER CONSERVATIVE MPS IN SEPTEMBER 1977 AT THE INVITATION OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRADE, THE RT HON JOHN NOTT, MP WILL ARRIVE AT KAI TAK ON FLIGHT KÉ617 FROM SEOUL, ETA 11.50 AM ON SATURDAY (JANUARY 26). HE WILL BE MET BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE. PHOTOGRAPHIC FACILITIES WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PRESS REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER HIS ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT. THEY SHOULD BE IN THE PRESS ROOM ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE FLIGHT. BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE NEXT WEDNESDAY (JANUARY 30) AFTERNOON, MR NOTT IS EXPECTED TO GIVE A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE AIRPORT.

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