TNAG-0335-FCO40-371-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 91

Type 1+.

From

Telephone No. & Ext.

.Confidential.

Restricted. Unclassified.

PRIVACY MARKING

..In Confidence

HONG KONG REPRESENTATION OVERSEAS

}

Department

In addition to the Hong Kong Government Office

in London Hong Kong has representatives in our

embassies in Washington and Brussels, and in the

Mission at Geneva. In Washington and Geneva the

officers concerned are members of the Diplomatic

Service on secondment. It is possible that members

of UMELCO may ask whether similar representation

could be arranged at other posts, as they did when

Mr Rippon had lunch with them. If so, the Secretary

of State may like to make a non-committal reply.

A number of our embassies already do a good deal' of

work for Hong Kong (a good example is Tokyo, where

the Commercial Department actively look after Hong

Kong's interests). Whether there would be a full-

time job in any other post for a Hong Kong

representative is open to question, although

specific proposals could doubtless be looked at.

There is also the problem of finding suitable

officers.

In addition the Secretary of State should know

that the Hong Kong Trade Development Council maintains

15 offices overseas. The Trade Development Council

is a statutory body established under Ordinance and

(885363) Dd. 896639 1,000м 8/71 SLS.

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

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