TNAG-0137-FCO40-173-Supply-of-political-and-economic-information-to-Hong-Kong-to-1969 — Page 15

bu elsewhere it must rely on the services which the

staffs of our posts can provide.

Hong Kong's trading interests are now extensive,

and by its trade it must live. It is no longer just

an entrepot port of regional commercial importance,

as it was immediately before and after the war, but an

industrial community whose light manufactures are now

exported on an almost world-wide basis. The size,

pattern and complexity of its trade increase every

year, and the responsible officials of the Hong Kong

Government service need for the formulation of the

Colony's commercial policies and the conduct of its

commercial relations reliable information on a wide

range of political and economic developments in the

countries with which it trades. Also, from time to

time, they are confronted with an urgent need to form

a view on some action or policy of a foreign govern-

this can only be done with any assurance

ment;

against the background of a sound general knowledge of

affairs in the country concerned.

Unfortunately the "Financial Times" does not

provide all the services its advertisements claim!

Arthur Maddocks, the Political Adviser to the Hong

Kong Government (the post, as you may know, is filled

from the Diplomatic Service on secondment) has

therefore asked if certain posts could help to supply

the necessary information and we for our part greatly

hope that you will feel able to do so.

/The sort of

.....

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