TNAG-0137-FCO40-173-Supply-of-political-and-economic-information-to-Hong-Kong-to-1969 — Page 16

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The sort of information Hong Kong is

looking for cannot be exhaustively defined.

General surveys of aspects of the political

and economic scene, which would normally be

the subject of a despatch, are what Maddocks

has chiefly in mind. Hong Kong do get many

of the despatches in print, but only after a

considerable lapse of time; it would be much

more helpful if a copy could be supplied direct

by the originating post at time of issue.

Despatches normally describe and assess

developments some time after they have occurred;

the more important developments are often

reported on nearer their occurrence by

informal letter and it would therefore be very

much appreciated if, in appropriate cases,

these also could be copied direct to Hong Kong.

We do not, of course, overlook the fact that

many posts are already sending copies of

reports of obvious direct interest to Hong Kong

and are even corresponding with the Colony on

such matters.

Clearly what is sent must be left to your

discretion. We do not envisage that there

will be any need to send material rating a

higher classification than "Confidential".

In any case we would ask you to send all such

material to :

Political Adviser,

Colonial Secretariat,

Hong Kong

and he will act as a filter before it is

disseminated for use in the Department of

Commerce and Industry.

/ We hope