XN000022-1985-09-06 — Page 3

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1985

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BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES ON TIMOTHY RENTON

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IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES, THE FOLLOWING ARE BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES ON MR TIMOTHY RENTON, THE NEW MINISTER OF STATE AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE RESPONSIBLE FOR HONG KONG AFFAIRST

MR (RONALD) TIMOTHY RENTON WAS BORN IN 1932.

HE WAS EDUCATED

AT ETON (KING'S SCHOLAR) AND WON A SCHOLARSHIP TO MAGDALEN COLLEGE, OXFORD WHERE HE TOOK A FIRST IN HISTORY.

HE IS MARRIED AND HAS FIVE CHILDREN,

UNTIL HIS MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENT IN SEPTEMBER 1984, HE WAS A DIRECTOR OF A MINING INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AN OIL EXPLORATION COMPANY.

MR RENTON HAS BEEN ENGAGED IN INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE AND BANKING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. HE WORKED IN CANADA FOR FIVE YEARS AND HAS VISITED MANY COUNTRIES IN THE MIDDLE AND FAR EAST AND EASTERN EUROPE,

HE HAS LECTURED ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE, AND AFTER TRAVELLING ROUND THE WORLD WROTE ARTICLES FOR THE STATIST AND FINANCIAL TIMES ON THE SUBJECT OF EXPORTING.

FROM 1964 TO 1967 HE WAS BRANCH CHAIRMAN OF NORTH KENSINGTON CONSERVATIVE ASSOCIATION, AND FROM 1969 TO 1972 SERVED AS VICE-CHAIRMAN OF LEWES CONSERVATIVE ASSOCIATION.

IN 1969-70 HE

WAS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR RESEARCH UNIT OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY, WORKING ON THE NATIONALISED INDUSTRIES.

MR RENTON CONTESTED SHEFFIELD PARK AT THE 1970 GENERAL ELECTION AND REDUCED THE LABOUR MAJORITY BY MORE THAN 3 000.

HE WAS ELECTED FOR MID SUSSEX, A NEW SEAT, IN FEBRUARY 1974.

HE HAS SPECIALISED KNOWLEDGE OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE,

PARTICULARLY OF EXPORTING, FINANCE AND STEEL.

FROM MAY 1979-MAY 1981 MR RENTON WAS PARLIAMENTARY PRIVATE SECRETARY TO MR JOHN BIFFEN MP, FIRST AT THE TREASURY, AND THEN REMAINED AS HIS PARLIAMENTARY PRIVATE SECRETARY WHEN MR BIFFEN WAS APPOINTED SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRADE.

FROM NOVEMBER 1981 UNTIL 1983 MR RENTON WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARLIAMENTARY EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE.

/MR RESPON