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functions of the post are commercial and economic. The vast bulk of the work consists of export promotional effort and the post is in constant correspondence with C.R.E. Department of the Board of Trade. Additionally, the post has a number of economic subjects including reporting on the Hong Kong economy but also involving work on quotas, tariffs and other aspects of Hong Kong/British economic relations. It also has quite a large administrative work load in helping to look after other British offices in Hong Kong, in organising travel, stores and baggage for the Mission in Peking and in looking after the arrangements for our Chinese language students. The Post also supervises the work of the British Diplomatic
Service Mail Office in Hong Kong.
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In recent months two extra functions have been added to this
list. The closure of our Consulate in Macao has meant that some other organisation should take over the residual consular functions and it was decided that the Trade Commission was the most appropriate body. Mr. Hannam is, therefore, officially designated H.M. Consul (non-resident) in Macao and the Assistant Trade Commissioner is appointed British Vice-Consul (non-resident) Macao. As far as I can make out, these extra functions have not involved much work so far and Mr. Hannam has not visited Macao but clearly they will bring in some extra work and could achieve a greater importance if the Macao situation deteriorated further. The second development is the appointment of an Information Officer to the Trade Commission. His primary functions are to increase the effectiveness of the British information effort in Hong Kong in support of export promotion and to secure a better understanding of British economic achievements and policies, but he is also charged with the discreet promotion "in consultation with the Hong Kong Government of an understanding of Britain's domestic and overseas policies". It will be readily appreciated that these terms of reference mark an important new phase in the philosophy of British representation in Hong Kong.
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