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135640 MDHIAN 5623
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FM BTC HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 14140OZ FCO
TELNO 408
OF 14133OZ SEPTEMBER 89
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG
HKB OZE /23
TOP CUPY Q DIST?
MR MAUDE'S VISIT
1. THE MINISTER IS SCHEDULED TO VISIT COATES PRINTING IN TAIPO AT 4.15 PM ON 19 SEPTEMBER (SERIAL 15 IN HK TELNO 3014). AFTER WALKING THE COURSE TODAY 14 SEPTEMBER I SUGGEST THAT THIS VISIT NEED NOT TAKE UP THE FULL TIME ALLOCATED. I SUGGEST THAT WE ADD A VISIT TO DE LA RUE'S BANKNOTE PRINTING PLANT WHICH IS ONLY A FEW HUNDRED YARDS AWAY IN THE SAME INDUSTRIAL ESTATE. THIS WOULD COME IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE VISIT TO COATES, AND WOULD LAST FOR ABOUT 25 MINUTES.
2. THE ONLY SNAG IS THAT BECAUSE OF THEIR PRODUCT VERY TIGHT SECURITY PREVAILS. IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE PRESS ON THIS VISIT. THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES SUGGEST THAT THE PRESS BE TAKEN DIRECT TO THE COATES FACTORY AND THAT ONE OF THEIR PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKES A COUPLE OF POOL PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE GIVEN TO THE PRESS TO COVER THE VISIT TO DE LA RUE. THIS SEEMS ENTIRELY ACCEPTABLE TO US.
3. THE ADVANTAGE OF THESE ARRANGEMENTS ARE THAT MR MAUDE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE TWO VERY DIFFERENT TYPES OF BRITISH INVESTMENT AND INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY. IT WILL ENABLE HIM TO SAY THAT HE HAS SEEN MORE IN TOTAL AND MORE VARIETY OF BRITAIN'S COMMERCIAL COMMITMENT IN THE SHORT TIME AVAILABLE. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ARE CONTENT WITH THE PROPOSED ARRANGEMENTS.
4. GRATEFUL FOR CONFIRMATION THAT THIS IS ACCEPTABLE.
HEAP
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