TNAG-1847-FCO40-2622-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 86

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BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION

HONG KONG.

19 April 1989

307

A R Paul Esq

Hong Kong Department

Foreign & Commonwealth Office

London SW1

Dear Alan,

FAC IN HONG KONG

·R12414

Miss Massim

Vseful for our governe briefing purposes

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Thank you for the quick response to my telegram about the Trade Commission background briefing for the FAC. The Committee's informal visit took place on 18 April. Chris Hayward and Roy Parkinson (Administration Officer) were with me. Attached is a copy of the material we gave to each member of the

Committee.

Their questions were mainly about the detail of trade, opportunities, the involvement of British companies and about our work. They asked if we were well-enough equipped and had enough people to support British companies pursuing opportunities in Hong Kong, Macao, the Pearl River and southern China (yes); whether we had as many people as the US Consulate General (I thought that although the US Consulate General was very large, we had more people concentrating on commercial work); how well plans were progressing for the new Consulate General (I said a number of sites had been considered and that professional advisers were being appointed to help decide what should be done). Nobody asked if a site would be provided by the Hong Kong government.

I had prepared, for my own use, the attached questions and possible answers about accommodation: the effect of the political situation on British business; and about inward investment and passports. Only question 9 was asked but you may care to have all the draft answers on file (I did not hand this over of course).

I am sending John Hall in DTI a copy of this letter with all the commercial briefing given to the committee and the question and answer brief. I am also copying the letter and the question and answer brief to Mark Bertram in OED.

I am due to introduce a number of British businesspeople to the committee over dinner on 21 April. I will report again after that.

Your eve

Ray Re

RE Holloway

Senior British Trade Commissioner

Encl.

cc: W J Hall Esq, OT2, DTI

M HR Bertram Esq, OED, FCO REH/mcs

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