Mr Youde
HONG KONG: VISIT TO THE UK OF MR NJ V WATT
1.
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You will have seen from Hong Kong telegram no. 154 that Mr NJ V Watt, a senior Hong Kong Government official, will be in London from 18-22 February at the beginning of his visit to other EEC capitals.
2.
The purpose of the tour is to survey Hong Kong's public relations and information effort in the EEC. Mr Watt was Director of Government Information Services in Hong Kong and immediately prior to this appointment was Commissioner for Films and Television.
3. His visit relates to the suggestion raised between Mr Royle and Mr Jordan that we should nominate linkmen for Hong Kong among the existing staff at missions in the EEC capitals. This has run into a fair amount of opposition from the UTI who fear creeping imperialism from Hong Kong and a diversion of effort and some confusion of purpose in the commercial staffs of our missions. I think these fears are overstated but I have had to go along with them to the extent of instructing posts to do no more for the moment than discuss with Mr Watt and report back (see a 'letter from Mr Braithwaite attached).
Mr Watt's own position is odd. He was moved sideways out of his previous job in 1972 when the Governor said he wanted him to act as a linkman with the EEC. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council however opposed this on the ground that a non-job was being found for him which usurped their function. He is therefore to some extent looking for a role.
5.
I do not suggest that you need or should see him during his vicit to London on 20-21 February. He will already be seeing Mir Braithwaite (to discuss Hong Kong and the EEC) as well as the Head of GIPD and the COI Controller of Overseas Services. But if Mr Goodfellow, who will be looking after him in my absence, judges in the light of those meetings that there would be substantial advantage in a meeting with you, perhaps you would agree with the above as background?
15 February 1974
CONFIDENTIAL
Desha
A C Stuart
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.
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