TNAG-0747-FCO40-951-Visits-of-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 26

Brief No 13

THURSDAY, 12 OCTOBER

DINNER WITH THE SENIOR BRITISH TRADE COMMISSIONER (SBTC)

(MR DEREK MARCH)

Directive for the SBTC

The Inspectors who recently visited Hong Kong produced a draft directive for the SBTC defining his precise responsibilities. These include not only export promotion but also various subsidiary functions, such as: administering the DS language students in Hong Kong; keeping in close contact with the Hong Kong Government; promoting an understanding of British economic policies; and acting as HM Consul for Macao. HKGD have assumed responsibility for clearing the draft with all the interested departments in the FCO and Whitehall. This is nearly complete and we hope that the directive will issue fairly soon. We do not expect it to be greatly changed from the draft agreed by the Inspectors with Mr March (copy attached).