TNAG-0466-FCO40-531-Hong-Kong-s-interests-in-EEC-capitals-1974 — Page 99

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28

REGISTRY No. 51

- 9 MAY 1974

HKK 6/598/2.

HONG KONG REPRESENTATION IN EEC CAPITALS

1.

Mr Watt, accompanied by Mr Kidd, called on 28 March to discuss his preliminary conclusions following his recent tour of EEC capitals. Mr Hart (EID) was present. Mr Watt said that he had been impressed by the initiative taken in the TDC offices which he had visited throughout Europe and by the very good working relationship they had with HM Missions in the area. His conclusions were that little change was necessary from a policy point of view, but that a number of practical matters would greatly help the projection of Hong Kong within the EEC. 3.Mr Watt enumerated these as:

i) In Hong Kong itself there must be considerable improvement in internal coordination between government/ Trade Development Council/Hong Kong Tourist Board. He thought the government and TDC should evolve a 5-year plan to take account of developments in the commercial field in Europe. Although this would mean greater involvement by government in the TDC, he thought closer links were essential if diffusion of effort were to stop.

ii) Mr Watt thought that a great deal more could be

improve Hong Kong's image in Europe if more effort were to be given to contacting and briefing both resident and visiting European press representatives in Hong Kong.and through the Hong Kong Government Office with the resident European press representatives in London.

iii)

In connection with both the foregoing he thought it necessary to issue, probably monthly, an economic/ business newsletter, part of which would be adapted for different European markets, to back up the TDC effort. He thought it should be produced in local languages.

iv) From the foregoing, Mr Watt concluded that the nomination of a special representative in British Embassies in the Nine was not necessary. The developments he foresaw could best be dealt with through the existing offices of the Trade Development Council and the Tourist Board, linked with a strengthening of the Hong Kong Government representation in Brussels, probably by a local part-time Information Officer who would be attached and responsible to Mr Dodge. He thought the coordination of Hong Kong's efforts should be through Brussels and through the Hong Kong Government Office in London. Additionally Locally, he would suggest a Hong Kong Government

Information Officer attached to the Trade Development Council Office in Frankfurt and with lesser priority, with a similar post in Milan and a part-time journalist in Paris.

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