TNAG-0068-FCO40-104-Future-of-the-British-Trade-Commission-1968 — Page 7

میں

IPG1/1/240/2

2

t

FOREIGN OFFICE/ COMMONWEALTH OFFICE MATCHEW PARKER STREET, LONDON S.W.1.

CONFIDENTIAL

26 March, 1968

In paragraph five of his letter IA1/240/1

of 10 February 1967 Bob Curson said that we should be prepared to look at any detailed proposals which you might have for extension of your information effort, towards the end of last year.

2.

As a result of the reactions in Hong Kong to devaluation and Sir Arthur Galsworthy's report of his visit to Hong Kong before Christmas, further thought has been given to this question here. As a result there is general agreement that there is probably a case for the addition of an UK based Information Officer to your staff. Our preliminary thought is that the Officer concerned, who would probably be a grade 6, should if possible have political flair as well as information experience. His task should be:

(i) to increase the vigour and effectiveness of our

information effort in Hong Kong in support of export promotion,

(ii)

to secure a better understanding of British economic policies and achievements, and

(iii) discreetly to promote, in consultation with the Hong Kong Government, an understanding of Britain's general domestic and overseas policies.

While his overt purpose would be commercial information work we would hope that he could undertake the third task noted above without embarrassment to the Hong Kong Government under his cover as a commercial information officer, probably through the personal contacts which he would build up with the press etc.

3. It will be necessary for the Commonwealth Office to clear the proposed appointment in advance with the Governor in accordance with the undertaking given to him last year when your locally engaged commercial information assistance post was created. But before we approach the Governor we would be grateful to have your comments on the above proposal.

(D.S. CAPE)

Joint Information Administration Department

M.P. Hannam Esq.

Principal British Trade Commissioner,

یکھ

Hong Kong

63,

3

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES N^, 63

2 7 MAR 1968

MWB 1/9

Tho.