TNAG-1899-FCO40-2697-Future-of-Hong-Kong-briefing-1989 — Page 23

PS/PUS

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

НКВ

040/4.

From:

RJT McLaren

Date:

30 June 1989

Cc:

ра

48

Private Secretary

PS/Lord Glenarthur

Mr Gillmore

MY Paul, HKD

Mr Muir, Information Dept

A/B

SENIOR BRITISH TRADE COMMISSIONER IN HONG KONG

1.

The PUS minuted to me about a conversation with Lord Fanshawe on 22 June. You will since have seen minutes from Mr Court (of 23 June) and Mr Peirce (of 28 June) recording Lord Glenarthur's and the Secretary of State's view that it would not be right for the PUS to seek out Mr Henry Keswick.

2"

For the record, I should perhaps point out that Mr Keswick has put his case for a greatly expanded role for the British "Commissioner" in Hong Kong to just about everyone in the FCO except the PUS! He has spoken on various occasions to me, to Mr Gillmore, to Lord Glenarthur, and to the Secretary of State himself. He has also given his views to the FAC, as their report points out. Whatever Lord Fanshawe may think, Mr Keswick is not in the least susceptible to advice; indeed, he is quite impervious to it. He has made it plain to me that he will continue to be "very busy" on the question until we see things his way.

3. On the substance, I have been conducting correspondence with Mr Heap and the Governor with a view to giving the former an information role going beyond his trade promotion functions. I propose to submit to Ministers after the Secretary of State's return from Hong Kong.

branden

R JT McLaren

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL