E.B. & Co. 56-3197 9,75
Registry
No.
ECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
Top Secret.
Secret,
Confidential.
Restricted.
Unclassified.
RIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
DRAFT
BRIEF
XTXX
Type 1 +
FROM
BRIEF FOR SIR RALPH BATEMAN'S CALL
ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Telephone No. Est.
233-4381
Department HKIOD
HONG KONG
Background
1.
The Secretary of State will be in Hong Kong from th afternoon of 1 May to early on the morning of 4 May, befue going on to China to conclude his visit to the Far East. There will be one full working day only, 3 May, in Hong: \(\ng •
t
2. As stated in answers to Parliamentary Questions on 18 and 19 February, the Secretary of State's visit to Hong Kong will provide him with a first-hand opportunity to examine the situation there, particularly in the Ligh of continuing UK Parliamentary and public interest in ta Colony's affairs. The visit will also serve to demonek (1 the importance attached to the link between Britain and Hong Kong and the need for mutual understanding in mone the relationship between the two sides. Hong Kong is Dependent Territory but happens also to be the world' sixteenth largest trading power and this and other fact my produce strains in the relationship between Britain and Hong Kong.
3.
The UK is one of Hong Kong's major export markets At présent, the balance of visible trade is roughly 2:1 1 Hong Kong's favour, the UK deficit in 1975 being 150 m However, while reliable statistics are not available, it is thought likely that invisible earnings accruing to! UK from Hong Kong offset this deficit.
4.
During his visit to Hong Kong, the Secretary of lea is expected to meet Hong Kong 'Government officials, official Members of the Legislative and Executive Councils, representatives of the local business community, the British Trade Commissioner and others. It has been suggested } }
he should make a short speech at a lunch to be attend
local businessmen.
/Ling to T..
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