TNAG-0749-FCO40-953-Visits-of-officials-from-Hong-Kong-to-UK-1978 — Page 83

Mr A Coppin TRED

Room G 5/1

FCO

Downing Street

SW1

COMMERCIAL RELATIONS AND EXPORTS DEPARTMENT OF TRADE

1 Victoria Street London SW1H OET

Telex 8811074/5 DTIHA G

Telegrams Advantage London SW1 Telephone Direct Line 01-215 5273

Switchboard 01-215 7877

HKK 026/2

RASAVED

2 CFEB 1978

DESK OFF.

INDEX

Your reference

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

́ Our reference

Date

9 February 1978

Joe M. Coffin

We spoke about my letter of 25 Jannay 78 to Thompson in HKGD concerning the proposal that the Senior British Trade Commissioner in Hong Kong (Mr March) should visit the UK in May, 1978, to speak at a series of seminars organised by the Hong Kong Trade Advisory Group. Below is a list of the seminars held since the duty tour of the previous SBTC (Mr Kinnear) in October, 1976.

Date

1976

#

Venue

Attendance

2533

BTC Representation

4 October

London

SBTC (Mr Kinnear)

55

5 October

Manchester

SBTC (

"

40

28 October

Poole, Dorset

None (

It

>

1977

24 May

Sheffield·

None

16

17/18 November

Glasgow

None

31

6 December

Newcastle

ATC (Mr Orr)

45/50

As you can see the level of support for seminars is decreased when we are unable to put a BTC staff member forward as a speaker. As far as Hong Kong is concerned there is an additional problem in that the SBTC would not normally be expected to

In return to the UK until 1979 - almost three years since the previous visit. this interim period we have only had two de-briefing tours by BTC staff during which, for obvious reasons, it proves impossible to arrange seminars, and one visit by the junior commercial officer.

The Hong Kong Trade Advisory Group are anxious to maintain the momentum of these events and it is with this in mind that the programme this coming May has been proposed. Although I would not wish to draw a direct comparison between these events and export performance, it needs to be stated that UK exports to Hong Kong increased by well over 30% last year an increase substantially better than that achieved in any year in the last deaade. What can certainly be stated is that they have contributed to a growing awareness of Hong Kong as a market amongst UK businessmen. One example of this is that some 130 British companies will be exhibiting at an exhibition in Hong Kong in June, 1978. When we attempted to mount an exhibition in March, 1976, plans were called off due to lack of support.

学

€2681