CONFIDENTIAL
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5. On the 4th point, we have sent the figures produced by Hong Kong to the Department of Trade and asked for their comments: these are still awaited.
6. On the 5th point, we have now obtained the agreement of the British Council, the Department of Education and Science and the ODM to our sending an adviser to Hong Kong, to be paid from British Technical Cooperation funds. We have suggested a visit of about 3 months in the Autumn; we await Hong Kong's comments.
7. On the 6th point, you and Mr Michael Stewart took the outline plan with you when you went to Hong Kong in April. After some initial reluctance, the Governor has agreed to incorporate the outline in his own suggested plan, which he undertook to let us have in good time for the Secretary of State's visit.
In the meantime, nobody else in Hong Kong is aware of the existence of our outline, or of the fact that we have given it to the Governor.
8.
Agenda Item 2: Mr Michael Stewart's report
I have
Copies of the report have been circulated. not yet had an opportunity to study it in detail, but my first impression is that it could provide a useful basis for starting a profitable dialogue with Hong Kong. Although they will probably not agree with certain things in the report, its ideas are generally put forward in moderate language that shows a clear understanding of the Hong Kong Government point of view. Mr Stewart might like to comment in more detail on his impressions.
9. Agenda Item 3: Future of the Standing Committee
It is a misnomer now to say that the Committee is monitoring the Planning Paper. The paper has now passed into history, and the Committee has evolved itself into a periodice reunion of officials going over developments that have taken place in Hong Kong since the last meeting. It may be that it is useful to have such meetings, but if so, they should result from a conscious decision to hold them and not simply be allowed to evolve from something orginally established with a much more limited purpose. The fact that we are now moving forward to the preparation of a new plan for post-1980, may be thought sufficient justification for retaining the Committee.
16 May 1978
W.E. Quantill
WE Quantrill
Hong Kong and General Department
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