TNAG-1257-FCO40-1590-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 220

Hur 0 023/02

PP PORT LOUIS

RR FCO

GR 250

RESTRICTED

FM HONG KONG 02044OZ NOV 83

TO PRIORITY PORT LOUIS

Copy for Heang Kaung Dept.

HIKO 40/5

RECEIVED N« SEGISTR}//

DET

#EX

1983

દ

TELEGRAM NUMBER 3 OV 2 NOVEMBER

INFO ROUTINE FCO

NR-

YOUR TELNO 3: DELEGATION FROM MAURITIUS.

489

YOUR PARA 3: COURTESY CALLS. THE TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG WHICH ARE THE GOVERNOR'S MAN PREOCCUPATION NOT ONLY MEAN A CONSIDERABLE ADD THONAL WORKLOAD BUT INVOLVE FREQUENT VISITS TO LONDON AND PEKING. SIR EDWARD YOUDE HOPES THAT SIR GAETAN DUVAL WILL UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES HE IS UNABLE TO COMMIT HIMSELF TO RECEIVING A COURTESY CALL EVEN FROM SUCH A DISTINGUISHED DELEGATION AS THIS. THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY THE HONOURABLE DENIS BRAY CMG CVO JP, WILL RECEIVE THE DELEGATION ON THE GOVERNOR'S BEHALF AT 1000 ON MONDAY 21 NOVEMBER. THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE MR

HAMISH MACLEOD WILL RECEIVE THEM AT 1130. THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL WILL GIVE A LUNCHEON IN THE DELEGATION'S HONOUR ON TUESDAY 22 NOVEMBER. SUBJECT TO ETA DIRECTOR OF PROTOCOL WILL GREET THE DELEGATION AT THE AIRPORT. CURLE WILL GLADLY HAVE A SEPARATE TALK ABOUT ANY MATTER WITHIN HIS COMPETENCE WITH ONE OR MORE MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION IF THIS IS DESIRED.

2. AS REGARDS YOUR PARA 4, WHILST WE ARE DELIGHTED TO RECEIVE A HIGH LEVEL DELEGATION FROM MAURITIUS AND OFFER THEM EVERY COURTESY WE CANNOT ENCOURAGE OR SUPPORT ATTEMPTS TO PERSUADE HONG KONG INVESTORS TO EXPORT THEIR CAPITAL, PARTICULARLY IF SUCH INITIATIVES ARE (OR APPEAR TO BE) INSPIRED BY THE WORLDWIDE ATTENTION PAID TO THE UNCERTAINTY OVER HONG KONG'S FUTURE. IN THIS RESPECT OUR POSITION IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF BRITISH MISSIONS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. WE HAVE REPLIED TO SIMILAR REQUESTS FROM OTHER COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENTS BY ADVISING THEM TO USE BANK ING CHANNELS AND ARE RELIEVED TO KNOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF MAURITIUS

IS USING THE HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANK.

YOUDE

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