TNAG-0938-FCO40-1157-Visit-of-John-Nott--Secretary-of-State-for-Trade--to-Hong-Ko-1980 — Page 126

1) Motomie 2) the hyets

elys

HOFC 021/23

HKK026

-5 AUG 1980

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FM E T C HONG KONG 230605Z JUL 80

TO PRIORITY DOT

TELEGRAM NUMBER CREDA 155 OF 23 JULY

INFO PRIORITY FCO

MY CREDAS 153 AND 154.

ON

·K129

DOT/CRE

HKCD. TRED.

XZ

YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT AT THIS MORNING'S MEETING OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE THERE WAS LENGTHY DISCUSSION ON THE FORM OF THE MINISTER'S FAREWELL LUNCH. THE TDC AND OURSELVES CONSIDER THAT ITS AIM SHOULD BE THE RETURN OF HOSPITALITY TO THE HONG KONG GARMENT TRADE AND THAT THE MINISTER'S SPEECH SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON THE OBJECTIVES AND CONCLUSIONS OF THE MISSION. ON THE OTHER HAND THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ARGUED THAT A BRITISH TRADE MINISTER WOULD BE EXPECTED TO MAKE A GENERAL POLICY SPEECH AT A MAJOR CHAMBER SPONSORED LUNCH TO WHICH THEY WOULD INVITE MEMBERS OF THE CHAMBER, THE LOCAL BRANCH OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATIJ: AND INTERESTED MEMBERS OF MAJOR TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL

ORGANISATIONS 1 E AS ARRANGED FOR MR NOTT IN JANUARY.

2. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ADVICE. I READ EARLIER EXCHANGES TO SUGGEST THAT THE MINISTER WOULD PREFER TO CONCENTRATE ON THE GARMENT INDUSTRY GIVEN THAT MR MOTT HAS HIMSELF MADE TWO MAJOR SPEECHES TO A HONG KONG AUDIENCE ON GENERAL TRADE POLICY AND IS BEING ASKED TO MAKE YET ANOTHER IN NOVEMBER. I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN PROPERLY ARGUE THAT THIS PARTICULAR VISIT REQUIRES A DIFFERENT FORMAT FROM THAT FOLLOWED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

MARCH