TNAG-0747-FCO40-951-Visits-of-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 170

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با صاحي

4 APR 1978

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TO ROUTINE HONG KONG TELNO 261 OF 31 MARCH

FOR GOVERNOR FROM MICHAEL STEWART.

YOUR TELNO 370 OF 23 MARCH:

MY PURPOSE IN VISITING HONG KONG IS TO GAIN A FIRST-HAND IMPRESSION OF THE WAY THE HONG KONG ECONOMY WORKS, AND HOW IT IS MANAGED. THIS SHOULD MAKE ME BETTER ABLE TO ADVISE THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND OTHER MINISTERS WHO TAKE A CLOSE INTEREST IN HONG KONG, IN PARTICULAR IN ITS BUGETARY PROCEDURES. I REALISE THAT A PROGRAMME CONSISTING OF CALLS ON THE PEOPLE LISTED IN JOHN STEWART'S LETTER OF 17 MARCH WILL BE TOUGH GOING. BUT I AM ANXIOUS TO SEE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE IN THE SPACE OF THE THREE WORKING DAYS I SHALL HAVE IN HONG KONG. I HOPE THE RATHER LIMITED, SPECIALISED IMPRESSION I GET FROM MY WORKING PROGRAMME CAN BE ROUNDED OUT THROUGH MY MEETING SOCIALLY PEOPLE FROM A WIDER BACKGROUND INCLUDING LOCAL AND EXPATRIATE BUSINESSMEN, PEOPLE WORKING IN THE EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL FIELDS AND JOURNAL- ISTS (I SHOULD PARTICULARLY LIKE TO MEET THE EDITORS OF THE FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW AND THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST).

2. I ALSO HOPE IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO SEE SOMETHING MORE THAN JUST THE CENTRAL URBAN AREA. JOHN STEWART HAS SUGGESTED THAT HALF A DAY MIGHT BE SPENT ON A HELICOPTER TOUR OF THE COLONY, INCLUDING A STOP AT SHATIN NEW TOWN.

OWEN FILES

HK NG D

MR MURRAY

COPIES

ΤΟ

MR, M,J. STEWART

ECON ADVISER TO S OF S

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