SECRET
Church House,
House, t.
Sen
24/2/67.
23rd February, 1967.
You will remember that shortly before your departure you asked me for guidance on the presentation of Common Market issues in Hong Kong, We had not then seen Brief No. G.1. But we have since been able to study it and consider that, in general, it will serve the Secretary of State's purpose in Hong Kong very well. But we have some suggestions, particularly on the talking points for use with the Governor and Officials, and these I set out below.
2.
The talking points for use with the public provide the sort of general background which it is useful to put over in the Colony. The first paragraph needs some amendment to take account of the fact that Hong Kong is the last port of call and has no Ministers.
Xe think that reference to particular local problems (paragraph 8) should be brief. The last sentence of paragraph 11 might be slightly. warmed up with an allusion to Hong Kong's interest in the Kennedy Round. Our suggestions on these paragraphs are at Annex 'A'.
3.
These talking points for use with the public will, of course, also provide the meat of what the Secretary of State will have to say to Unofficial members of the Legislative and Executive Councila and to the Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Industries and Chine Manufacturers' Association. But it seems to us that in discussing local problems the Secretary of State should be prepared to ge further with these influential members of the community who in various ways, either as individuals or as members of the organisntica named, play a considerable part in the process by which policies and decisions are formed in Hong Kong. I attach as Annex 'B' a piece that, if substituted for paragraph 8 in the talking points for use with the public, would serve the purpose for this more knowledgeable gathering.
4.
Finally, talking points for use with the Governor and Official, The general points provide a satisfactory introduction, since hy the time you arrive in Hong Kong the Governor will have been informal about the visits to the Community capitals. (Western Economic Department are sending the Governor the infomation telegrams that went to Ambassadors and High Commissioners su marising the
Sir Arthur Snelling, KCMG., KCVO.
4/o British High Commission
Kuala humper.
impressions
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.