TNAG-1256-FCO40-1589-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 87

CONFIDENTIAL

Ms fest Athin recad

RECORD OF MEETING BETWEEN MR RAY WHITNEY, PARLIAMENTARY UNDER

SECRETARY OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, AND MR

MERVYN NORRISH, PERMANENT SECRETARY, NEW ZEALAND MINISTRY OF

FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TOGETHER WITH SUPPORTING UK AND NEW ZEALAND

OFFICIALS, WELLINGTON, TUESDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 1983

R

457)

1. After the usual courtesies Mr Whitney opened the discussion

by referring to the very close relations that exist between New

Zealand and Britain, based on personal, historical, cultural and

other ties. He said that because of these close ties we were

sometimes slow in noticing changes that were taking place in our

partner. There are differences and it was these differences that

he wanted to concentrate on. Mr Norrish agreed that taking each

other for granted had worried him. This was particularly the case with Australia. New Zealanders had always taken it for granted that they were close to Australia, but a recent review of their bilateral relations had shown that in many areas they were not nearly as close as they should be and this had come as a surprise. He said that it was most important that Britain and New Zealand should not take each other for granted and thought that it was good thing that Mr Cooper was taking a high-level business mission

to Britain. New Zealand had constantly conplained that British businessmen did not come to New Zealand, but the reverse was also true. Businessmen had neglected the relationship in both directions, but the Mission would be seeking to correct this. The leader of the Mission, Mr Trotter of Fletcher Challenge (New Zealand's largest Comapny), had no specific interests in the UK and would be able to bring a dis-interested approach to the promotion of two way trade.

Mr Whitney said that this was just the sort of approach he had been advocating in his address to the British Trade Associa- tion of New Zealand in Auckland the previous day. New Zealand's traditional exports would remain the vast bulk of trade, but there was a new realism and aggressiveness in British commerce and we would be working to retain our share of the New Zealand market. Mr Norrish said that he had noted the presence in New Zealand of a large British Trade Mission (Wakefield Chamber of Commerce) and

Mkkale's...

that whilst the New Zealand market was small he hoped we would RECEIVEetain the links

20 JLT 1983

DES & OFFCAM

INDEX

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DIARY

Stun Tsken

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CONFIDENTIAL

/Glenbrook Steel Project

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