TNAG-0466-FCO40-531-Hong-Kong-s-interests-in-EEC-capitals-1974 — Page 19

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necessary step to a number of further studies if Government is determined to tackle in the months ahead the overall problem of Hong Kong's image overseas.

5. The belief that there was a gap in our political and com- mercial information efforts in our main markets in Britain, Europe and North America was communicated to me during the latter half of 1972 with a request that at a suitable date in the future I should travel overseas and investigate what steps might be taken to bridge this gap. During 1973 it was formally agreed that a survey under the acgis of Government, with T.D.C. support, should take place and the following broad terms of reference were accepted:-

6.

(a) to study and evaluate the current effectiveness of Hong Kong's overseas information activities;

(b) to assess targets and priorities, and to make

recommendations as to how the effectiveness of these efforts might be improved;

(c) to recommend an overall plan for future development

in this field;

(a)

to present proposals for the staffing, structure and financing of any augmented operation which might be recommended.

As stated in the opening paragraphs above, it was subsequently proposed that this survey should, in the first place, concentrate on the effectiveness of our information effort in the E.E.C. member states and in Britain and that this investigation should be under- taken in two parts with the E. E. C. being explored first. These modifications to the procedural arrangements for the survey were discussed with the Executive Directors of the Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Tourist Association and with the General Secretary of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce prior to my departure and were broadly accepted by them.

7. I have therefore viewed my task as being the initial phase of a two (or possibly three) part survey but I have examined the E.E. C. information problems in their own right and have made recommendations in this report which I believe can be introduced independently of the subsequent surveys, without inhibiting further developments in other areas at a later date if these appear necessary. Certainly there is no requirement and I believe it would be ill advised

to delay consideration of this report pending completion of the overall longer-term task.

G. F. 323

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