TNAG-0942-FCO40-1161-Visit-by-Lord-Carrington--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-1980 — Page 23

TAKK

Miss Deeves,

(G 6/G)

+

ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE

Mr Gar

J3.11

Mr wings or.

70 nite X.

4 NOV SURA

Au aut PCD require is 10 mine, anche Mr March when he is in de overice;

ferenca.

7X408/30

*408 301/2

10.19

22 0871990

VASK OFFICER

229/10

SECRETARY OF STATE'S POSTPONED VISIT TO HONG KONG

CANTRY

PA

n Taken

88

1.

WP

CODE 18 - 77

مل

$5.11

I have seen a copy of your minute of 16 October covering that of Miss Metcalfe regarding the arrangements in Hong Kong.

2.

I have two comments:

(a) The British Trade Commission is not part of the Hong Kong

Government and was not in fact involved in any of the arrange- ments for the Secretary of State's visit, except for a possible meeting between Lady Carrington and DS wives, most of whose husbands are in fact in the Trade Commission but some of whom are also serving with the Hong Kong Government. All arrangements for visits from the UK to Hong Kong are handled by the Hong Kong Government except when a visitor is specifically concerned with the promotion of the UK's trade interests in Hong Kong;

is, of

(b) Hong Kong has considerable experience in dealing with high

level visitors and their present Director of Protocol course, a former senior member of your own department. I doubt that they require much chivvying but of course they will always welcome pertinent advice.

22 October 1980

Mr Barrett

Noted.

an

1. Morrice

P Morrice

Hong Kong and General Department K247

233 4381

Mr Morrice, Hong Kong and General Department

229/10

1. Thank you for your minute of 22 October. We have since spoken about it and I have explained that:

(a) Up till the last few years, at any rate, and possibly more

recently, the British Trade Commission in Hong Kong took the initiative in handling the nuts and bolts for supporting staff attached to Ministerial Delegations visiting Hong Kong and/or China. Whether this responsibility has now ceased is not clear. and you kindly said that when the British Trade Commissioner, Mr March visits London early next month you will put us in touch with one another and I will clarify the situation.

Х

/(b) As regards

ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE