TNAG-1076-FCO40-1326-Journalists-from-the-New-China-News-Agency-(NCNA)-in-Hong-Ko-1981 — Page 8

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IN CONFIDENCE

TR2/1534

Report on a visit by

MR WONG Bun-Yuen

Journalist, New China News Agency

HONG KONG

18-21 January 1981

by Geoffrey Bowden South Western Region

General

A smooth running visit with no snags.

Mr Wong is attempting to gather enough ideas and data and statistics to write articles on the state of industry in UK comparing declining industries with the between-the-wars industries and modern high technology industries. Up to Tuesday he seemed to be quite happy with what he had seen, and to have found the pattern he was looking for.

Specific

Mr Derek James, Group Press Officer, Dowty's promised to send certain literature to Mr Wong's London address.

At Nexos Mr Peter Smith (Systems Division) had to stand in for Mr Hunt, and did a good job without much notice.

All the companies visited were helpful and interested in the visit.

Geoffrey Bowden

23.1.81.

IN CONFIDENCE

CENTRAL OFFICE OF INFORMATION

Report on a visit by:

Mr Wong Bun-Yuen Hong Kong

21 and 22 January 1981

Escorted by: Dilys Plant, COI, WMRO

GENERAL:

Mr Wong was a very easy going, informal visitor. He was keen to get the most out of the COI programme and appeared at all times hugely enthusiastic. If, as he hopes, his next posting is to London he would certainly make a welcome addition to the more reserved members presently making up the Chinese press corps in London.

PROGRAMME:

Mr Wong's request to meet families on Social Security was not an easy one to fulfil. The Salvation Army was unable to help in the end and I then approached the Lane Neighbourhood Centre in Moseley. This is a small two roomed centre mainly staffed by voluntary help and financed by a small grant from the City Council. Mr Dave Allen, Social Worker in charge, was able to arrange for Mr Wong to interview a Kenyan Asian with three children and ill wife to support. Unfortunately because of his wife's ill- ness this man had never worked since his arrival in the UK in 1972 so he was perhaps not typical. However, Mr Wong found the interview useful and was also able to sit in on some of the advice sessions.

Later the DHSS Regional Information Officer gave a clear and concise run down on the various benefit systems and Mr Wong was able to clear up several misunderstandings.

Metro-Cammell, as always, was an excellent host. The Chairman, Mr Sansome devoted over an hour to a general discussion with Mr Wong. The discussion was wide ranging with obvious emphasis being given to the Kowloon-Canton railway and Hong Kong rapid transit system. Questions also arose over unemployment but at the moment Metro-Cammell is one of the few companies in the engineering industry who has not yet had to make any redundancies. Mr Wong then had a brief look at some of the Kowloon-Canton cars undergoing test.

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At BL Rover Car Plant Mr Wong had a short discussion with the plant manager. should have been longer as Mr Wong did not really get enough facts and figures to satisfy him. We then had a good look at the production facilities. I did mention to Mr Wong that for any details he needed he only had to contact BL and this he may well do.

CONCLUSION:

Certainly Mr Wong was enjoying his COI visit and it will engender considerable good will.

Elys Maul

26 January 1981