TNAG-0412-FCO40-458-First-Arts-Festival-of-Hong-Kong--26-February---26-March-197-1973 — Page 5

BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION IN HONG KONG 7th Floor, Shell House, Queen's Road, Central, HONG KONG Mail Address: P.O. Box No. 528, Hong Kong

Cable Address: "Uktrade Hongkong" Telephone: 230176

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Our reference: 13/4

Your reference:

D Hellings Esq MBE Personal Services Department Foreign & Commonwealth Office

London SW 1

Dear Don

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November 1973

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Last year the Department agreed (telex number 9 of 12 January) to a special Fund of up to £200 towards the costs of a buffet supper in honour of British Artists appearing at the liong Kong Arts Festival. The British Council agreed to a similar sum so that the British Council representative and I were able to combine to give a pary for a total of 175 people. The total cost in the event was $5,316 (which at the exchange rate of the time $14.545 to 31 was equivalent to £365.49). As I reported in my letter of 28 March to Patterson and elaborated in an account of the Festival in a letter of 29 March to Andrew Stuart, this proved to be a highly successful and useful occasion which made a good local impression for both ourselves and the British Council and was money well spent! I expressed then the expectation that we would be asked to do it again for the Festival this year and the hope that there would be agreement to making an appropriate Mission Fund provision to cover it.

The British Council representative and I have now been approached by the Festival organisers to give a similar supper in February for the members of the London Symphony Orchestra and the Birmingham Repertory Company who will be among the

However, if, as we did last year, we take artists appearing in next years Festival. only a representative selection from the Symphony Orchestra, it will not be possible to get by with less than about 175 guests attending (it has to be a husband and wife affair because many of the guests come on to the occasion after attending a perform-

which ance). Such has been the meteoric rise in prices that the Hong Kong Club

now estimates that still produce the best value for money and the cheapest meal the cost would be $45 per head. This produces a total cost of $7,875 which if split between the FCO and the British Council as on the previous occasion would represent $3,940 (say) for FCO or, at the present enchange rate of $12.58, £313.20.

J

I hesitated to ask for such a sharply increased subvention for this purpose but can

We have considered the assure you that there is no cheaper way of doing a supper. alternative of a drinks party with small chop which would cost approximately half the price but this would be an entirely different occasion which would not make the same impression or have the same cachet. Moveover, it is doubtful whether we would get the artists to it since experience last year indicates that few of them wish to to to a social occasion before the performance and very few local citizenary would think it worth turning out that late at night simply for a drink and canope.

I have also considered whether it would be feasible for me to meet some of the costs out of my entertainment allowance but (es Bill Peace will be able to testify from correspondence I have had with him) this just is not on, nor do I think my British Council colleague could afford it from his allowance.

I hope therefore

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