UNCLASSIFIED
FM BTC HONG KONG TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 178
OF 17040OZ APRIL 89
INFO IMMEDIATE DTI
UNCLASSIFIED
HKB 011/3
FAC IN HONG KONG: TRADE COMMISSION
2865/5765
TOP COPY MOHIAN 0881
Q DIST ?
1. AS YOU KNOW I WILL BE SEEING THE FAC INFORMALLY ON TUESDAY 18 APRIL. SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS I WOULD PROPOSE TO GIVE THEM AS BACKGROUND THE FOLLOWING NOTE AND THE ATTACHMENTS MENTIONED (HKD HAVE COPIES OF THESE). ANY ADVICE BY 18030OZ.
GRATEFUL
2.
THE TRADE COMMISSION IS AN FCO POST WORKING DIRECTLY TO THE FCO AND THE DTI.
3 =
IT HAS ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER OF STAFF AS A MEDIUM SIZED EMBASSY: 10 UK BASED (PLUS FOUR LANGUAGE STUDENTS) AND 28 LOCALLY ENGAGED.
4.
IT PROMOTES BRITISH COMMERCIAL INTERESTS IN HONG KONG AND MACAO AND INCLUDES A CHINA TRADE UNIT STAFFED BY PERSONNEL FROM THE EMBASSY IN PEKING.
5. IT ALSO PROVIDES A POINT OF CONTACT FOR VISITING MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS, ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR OTHER LONDON STAFF BASED IN HONG KONG, ASSISTS OTHER POSTS IN THE REGION (HELPING WITH THE SICK AND THE PURCHASE OF STORES ETC) AND RUNS THE DIPLOMATIC MAILS OFFICE FOR THE REGION.
6.
LAST YEAR
NINETY PERCENT OF ITS EFFORT IS COMMERCIAL. IT BECAME A SENIOR GRADE POST (THE SENIOR TRADE COMMISSIONER IS NOW OF THE AMBASSADORIAL GRADE). THIS RECOGNISED THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF THE POST AND OF BRITAINS COMMERCIAL INTERESTS AND INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG.
·
7 BRITISH COMPANIES HAVE SOLD MORE THAN PND STERLING 1BN WORTH OF MERCHANDISE IN HONG KONG IN EACH OF THE LAST TWO YEARS (THIS WAS MORE THAN EVER BEFORE THOUGH IT REPRESENTS ONLY ABOUT THREE PERCENT OF HONG KONGS TOTAL IMPORTS WHILE CHINA HAS BECOME AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT SOURCE OF
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