TNAG-0936-FCO40-1155-Visit-of-Norman-Fowler--Minister-of-Transport--to-Hong-Kong--1980 — Page 13

STEERING BRIEF GENERAL

1.

HONG KONG

Since Hong Kong is a Colony directly administered by the Governor who is responsible to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, who is in turn responsible to Parliament, the Minister's position there will be essentially different from when he is visiting China. On the one hand, he may expect to find a more ready recognition of UK interests; on the other, the constitutional position of the Governor, and the regime under which his Government operates, has to be borne in mind. The Minister will, of course, be able to talk much more freely than he will in China on UK transport policy and its relevance to Hong Kong. Generally, the visit is intended to reinforce the links already established, to indicate continuing interest in Hong Kong, its problems and potential, and to promote the UK as a source of transport expertise and equipment of

all kinds.

2.

The Minister will wish to express satisfaction with the continuing involvement of British firms in Hong Kong and his special interest in projects in which British firms have played or could play a part. He may wish to add that his Department is very willing to look at any proposals which the Hong Kong Government may put forward.