TNAG-0466-FCO40-531-Hong-Kong-s-interests-in-EEC-capitals-1974 — Page 103

EMB/INF 61/10

R Q Braithwaite Esq

EID (E)

ECO

London SW1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No. 51 22 MAR 1974

AKK 6/598/

Mo Heat (24) RCOB 2/3

BRITISH EMBASSY

BRUSSELS

Pl. copy &

13 March 1974

стру

Mh. Goodfellow, Akies.

"then pap

4/21/3

PA

2

Ft

Printh

HONG KONG'S INTEREST IN EEC CAPITALS

LAST

REF.

MOXT

REE

The Flease refer to your letter of 14 February to Statham copied to Winchester at this Embassy and Fergusson at UKREP EC. I saw Nigel Watt, together with Patrick Dodge who represents Hong Kong's interests here.

21.01

2. Watt wanted to know how we carry out information work in Brussels and what were the best ways of influencing Belgian opinion.

3. We told him as much as we could about the media and explained that a certain amount could be done through radio and television and through various agencies, but that Hong Kong as a subject was not particularly interesting to the average Belgian and that, in our view, only someone who knew the local scene rather well and was prepared to give a good deal of time and thought to the subject, stood a chance of making any sort of an impact on opinion here.

4. We also stressed that, although we would be glad to be of help by giving advice and arranging for him to meet one or two suitable people on his return, we could not undertake any extra commitments since we were already finding it hard to keep up with the present work load.

5. We shall have a clearer idea of the sort of solutions Watt has in mind when he returns from his visit to other European countries, but I think that when he left here he was thinking of recommending the employment of someone with local experience and locall contacts (perhaps a British journalist) to carry out the necessary contact work.

6. I think at present our feeling is that Hong Kong is never likely to be a subject of particular interest here, but that someone who already follows the Belgian press and Belgian opinion in the course of his normal duties, might be able to do a useful job (in return for a small salary or retainer) by advising people who might be interested in the subject, suggesting people who might usefully be invited to visit Hong Kong and generally look after Hong Kong's interests in the field of public opinion.

cc R E Jones Esq, GIPD

Mubalan

CT Isolani