TNAG-1847-FCO40-2622-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 42

MADABP (5)

(C) COMMERCIAL STAFF IN HONG KONG

The Trade Commission is an FCO post working directly to the FCO and DTI.

It has about same number of staff as a medium-sized Embassy: 10 UK based and 28 locally engaged.

It promotes British Commercial interests in Hong Kong and Macao and includes a China Trade Unit staffed by personnel from the Embassy in Peking.

Ninety per cent of its effort is commercial. But over the last year, it has also assumed responsibility from Hong Kong Government

for most British Ministerial visits, for all information work on

behalf of Britain and for the administration of all Whitehall staff

in Hong Kong.

Last year it became a senior grade post (Senior British Trade Commissioner is now of Ambassadorial rank) in recognition of growing importance of post and Britain's commercial interests and investment

in Hong Kong.

SUPPLEMENTARIES

More should be done to promote British exports to Hong Kong

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British companies have sold more than £l billion worth of

merchandise in Hong Kong in each of the last 2 years. Invisible

exports estimated to amount to a further £1 billion.

Ministers visit Hong Kong frequently to promote trade. Eight such visits since September. British Trade Commissioner and DTI

also very active.

In November this year, DTI will be mounting an all-British Trade Exhibition 'Britain in Hong Kong' to mark official opening of new

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.