TNAG-0613-FCO40-761-Visits-of-Governor-of-Hong-Kong-to-UK-1977 — Page 26

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It was very significant that Hong Kong had many newspapers

in two languages and that the judiciary was independent.

TRADE

GR said he would like to improve the public image of Hong

Kong in the UK and the UK in Hong Kong. This depended on

trade. He was grateful for the efforts of the MTR group.

He hoped this would continue with China Light and Power and

MTR extension. MM Trade was infinitely the most important

element in Hong Kong/United Kingdom relations. There used

to be a balance of trade but this disappeared in 1963.

Exporters just gave up. Britain's exports to Hong Kong were

four times those of its exports to China. He was encouraged

that Courtaulds thought that with the depreciation of the

pound and appreciation of the yen, there might be scope in

Hong Kong.

MM said that in his view the real problem was the difficulty of persuading anyone in England to take the Hong Kong market seriously. Missions would spend weeks in China because it was

glamorous and then a day in Hong Kong to recover. If they would

spend a week in Hong Kong they would be able to do some serious

business. He could only think that the MTR and China Light

contracts would help not only in producing statistics but also in producing headlines.

HC thought that the size of the Hong Kong market was a point

which was worth making to

to the Secretary of State. GR agreed.

S of S might enquire what work was being attempted and HC would

explain the existence of Hong Kong Trade Advisory Group run by

the Department of Trade.

MM said he doubted whether committees would do much good.

The task was to identify sectors and then invite exporters to

go to Hong Kong to study prospects without having their fares

paid!

SENIOR DS OFFICER

-

GR enquired if it was worth taking another look at

worth taking another look at the desirability

of having a DS Officer in Hong Kong. MM said every now and then

he would like one, but most of the time there would be no work

for him. The main thing was that Secretaries should be made

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