TNAG-0068-FCO40-104-Future-of-the-British-Trade-Commission-1968 — Page 36

CONFIDENTIAL

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CYPHER/CAT

PRIORITY B.5.C. SINGAPORE TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Telno 26

CONFIDENTIAL

23 January 1967

I have been asked to pass the following message from Mr. Robert Maxwell to the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations.

Message begins::

ર

Serious gap in British representation in Hong Kong.

(1) All COL produced material depends for distribution and

exploitation on Hong Kong information department who are part of, and paid for by, the Colonial Administration Hong Kong. Naturally, first priority on their staff and facilities go to assist the image and trade of Hong Kong and what is left goes to help us when their interests are not in conflict with ours. Understandably, the Governor pointed out to me that he and his administration must be particularly careful not to show bias in United Kingdom's favour.

(2) Our present imagine in Hong Kong is poor

(3) Great opportunities exist for sale of consumer goods as

well as goods of a capital nature. In all of Hong Kong I have only noticed six neon signs advertising British goods.

This shows lack of enterprise by our businessmen. BNEC should be invited to give this matter of increasing trade with Hong Kong urgent attention.

(4) It seems to me that best solution would be the appointment urgently to British Trade Commission (and under Trade Commissioners' direction) an Information Officer preferably with newspaper experience as there are 51.newspapers in Hong Kong, 11 of these in English, balance in Chinese. This Information Officer should have authority to engage a first class translator into Chinese.

(5) Hong Kong Government Information Office will gladly continue

to provide all technical and distribution facilities (excluding translation).

(6) Hong Kong Government, whilst making good and satisfied, use

of Her Majesty's Government's facilities in London neverthe- less, if the interests of Hong Kong's image and trade in the United Kingdom, maintain their own independent information officer in London.

CONFIDENTIAL

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