GRS 352
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
FM BTC HONG KONG 140710Z JANUARY 81
TO ROUTINE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER BTC 3 OF 14 JANUARY
INFO ROUTINE DOT DO I
TOP COPY
AKK 02613
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 26 JAM 44
DESK OFFICER
DOT FOR MRS GINGELL, CRE 4 AND MILNE, EXPORT WEEXCE FOR PA SCOTLAND
DOI FOR CAMMELL, V DIVISION
4
میل
YOUR BTC 1: COCKTAIL RECEPTION BY WALTER ALEXANDER AND COMPANY, FALKIRK
$27.
27,6
WHILE I WELCOME THE NEWS THAT BRAITHWAITE AND HIS CHAIRMAN PLAN A COCKTAIL RECEPTION IN HONG KONG TO CELEBRATE THEIR SUCCESS IN THE MARKET, I DO NOT PROPOSE TO ASK THE GOVERNOR TO ATTEND BECAUSE:-
A. HE DOES NOT NORMALLY ATTEND RECEPTIONS GIVEN BY OVERSEAS BUSINESS FIRMS AND TO DO SO WOULD SET AN UNWELCOME PRECEDENT:
REGISTRY
Action Taken
B. WHILE ALEXANDER'S PERFORMANCE HERE IS IMPRESSIVE, SUCCESS HAS BEEN ACHIEVED IN WHAT IS EFFECTIVELY A CAPTIVE BRITISH MARKET DUE TO THE COMMONWEALTH PREFERENCE CLAUSE IN THE BUS COMPANY
FRANCHISES
C. THE HONG KONG BUS SCENE IS CURRENTLY FRONT PAGE NEWS DUE TO WIDESPREAD PUBLIC OPPOSITION TO APPLICATIONS BY THE BUS COMPANIES FOR HIGHER FARES. I DOUBT WHETHER THE GOVERNOR WOULD WISH TO IDENTIFY HIMSELF PUBLICLY WITH A SALES SUCCESS WHICH HAS LED INDIRECTLY TO THE DEMAND FOR FARE INCREASES:
D. AS V DIVISION WILL BE AWARE FROM MY INDUS 6 OF TODAY, THE HONG KONG TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAS JUST SENT US A FORMAL COMPLAINT AGAINST DELIVERY DELAY OF LEYLAND CHASSIS WHICH IS HOLDING UP THE COMPLETION OF THE KMB ROUTE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME. I WOULD NOT EXPECT THE DEPARTMENT TO RECOMMEND THE GOVERNOR'S ATTENDANCE AT A BRITISH BUS CELEBRATION UNTIL THIS
DIFFICULTY IS CLEARED UP: "AND
E. FINALLY, AND I FEAR CLINCHINGLY, THE GOVERNOR WILL BE HOSTING HIS OWN RECEPTION FOR A VISITING FOREIGN MINISTER
ON 27 JANUARY.
2. IF YOU AGREE I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF MILNE COULD EXPLAIN THE BACKGROUND DIPLOMATICALLY TO BRAITHWAITE OF ALEXANDERS, TO WHOM
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