TNAG-1053-FCO40-1303-China-and-Hong-Kong-Working-Group-1981 — Page 60

RESTRICTED

HICK 121/4

RECEIVED IN REGISTKY NO. 51

22 JANIY81

DEAK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

No

MS

REGISTRY Action Taken

PG02311

CECO 301/548/1

2 January 1981

G C Dick Esq

Commercial Relations and Export.

Division 4

Department of Trade

1 Victoria Street

LONDON SW1

OA

CHINA AND HONG KONG WORKING GROUP

Nick 1219

52

Thank you for sending us a copy of your letter of 18 December to Robin McLaren about the proposal that the next meeting of the Group should concentrate on the two major topics set out in paragraph 2.

1950

2. We shall look forward to seeing the drafts of any papers which may be produced as the result of your discussion but I wonder if at this stage I could suggest that any papers written in London and copied here about the relevance of 1997 to the future of Hong Kong and the implications for UK trade, are given at least a "Restricted" classification. The mere knowledge that official studies are taking place on this subject is always liable to misinterpretation with the risk of unwelcome effects on local business confidence.

3. As you are probably aware, any classified papers held at this Trade Commission are restricted to UK-based staff and I think we must ensure that there is no local speculation that Whitehall is about to embark on a fundamental review of Hong Kong trade prospects as 1997 approaches. We shall naturally be only too happy to contribute to your deliberations once the Working Group have been able to establish the guidelines for any detailed study.

cc: R D Clift Esq

Hong Kong and General Dept, FCO

RJT McLaren Esq

Far Eastern Dept, FCO

TEJ Mound Esq, OBE PEKING

RESTRICTED

D M March

Senior Trade Commissioner

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