TNAG-0285-FCO40-321-British-government-representative-in-Hong-Kong-discussion-on-1970 — Page 13

CONFIDENTIAL

typists etc. The three Diplomatic Service officers receive no special privileges but are issued with Consular Cards by the Hong Kong Government.

5.

Since the takeover of the office by the Diplomatic Service from the Board of Trade, requests have continually been received from the Senior Trade Commissioner for more information regarding British policy in regard to Hong Kong. The difficulty in providing this has mainly been that it is not possible to give the Senior Trade Commissioner prior knowledge of matters until the Hong Kong Government is informed of them by us. As the Queen's representative in Hong Kong, the Governor naturally prefers to deal with the Secretary of State rather than through a local U.K. Government representative in Hong Kong.

6.

Since it is constitutionally impossible to have a British Government representative accredited to the Governor, who is himself the representative of the British Government, the solution to this problem would seem to be the appointment as Senior Trade Commissioner of a carefully selected person who would not only be able to do a good trade promotion job but, by the force of his personality, be able to put over British views to Hong Kong Government officials. In fact, this job calls for a man with an exceptional ability to get on with people.

(G.F. Kinnear) 16 October,

1970