HAD THE ANTICIPATED DEPRESSING AFFECT ON SACES OF BRITISH VEHICLES HERE. I HAVE HAD A LOOK AT THE GOVERNMENT'S PURCHASING POLICY TO SEE WHETHER WE MIGHT ASK FOR HELP IN THIS FIELD (ALTHOUGH
RCHASES OF NEW VEHICLES WILL BE RESTRICTED IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR FOR BUDGETARY REASONS). THE TENDER BOARD'S POLICY IS TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF MAKES OF GOVERNMENT VEHICLES IN ORDER TO RATIONALISE ON SPARE PARTS. ALL PURCHASES OF 3-TON TRUCKS AND OVER ARE RESTRICTED TO BRITISH MAKES, MEDIUM CARS TO THE TOYOTA CORONA AND LARGE CARS TO THE VAUXHALL VICTOR. THE REMAINING CATEGORIES (YAMAHA MOTOR-CYCLES EXCEPTED) ARE OPEN TO ALL COMERS. THE POLICY IS, THEREFORE, BY AND LARGE FAVOURABLE TO US. ONLY CONCESSION WE MIGHT ASK FOR IS PURCHASE OF MEDIUM-SIZED CARS FROM BRITAIN. THE NUMBERS INVOLVED WILL BE SMALL, BUT THESE VEHICLES PRESUMABLY ARE USED AS OFFICIAL TRANSPORT FOR SENIOR OFFICERS AND THIS LOOKS BAD IN A BRITISH COLONY.
3. IN MY OPINION JORDAN HAS DONE HIS BEST TO PRESENT THE OUTCOME OF THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EEC AS SYMPATHETICALLY AS POSSIBLE FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW AND THE COLONIAL SECRETARY MADE A MAJOR SPEECH RECENTLY TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ABOUT HONG KONG'S RELATIONSHIP WITH BRITAIN. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND, THEREFORE, THAT EITHER OF THE SUBJECTS YOU HAVE SUGGESTED SHOULD BE RAISED IN FORMAL DISCUSSION, OTHER THAN THE ONE POSSIBILITY MENTIONED ABOVE. THE ONLY OTHER SUGGESTION I CAN MAKE IS THAT THE OPPORTUNITY MIGHT BE TAKEN TO PUT THE POINT TO JORDAN IN PRIVATE THAT IT IS IN HONG KONG'S INTEREST TO BUY MORE FROM BRITAIN AND THAT ANYTHING HE CAN DO IN A QUIET WAY TO SPREAD THIS MESSAGE WOULD BE BOTH HELPFUL AND APPRECIATED.
KINNEAR
NNNN
!
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.