Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
From The Minister of State
9 February 1989
9
HKCC121/5
dea, Robin,
Offerte Miss
13/2
Mr Moms
Ryj4/2
Myrsoun
ནང་
Mr Forstman N 1012
14 Mr word with /1072
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Thank you for your thoughtful and stimulating letter of 19 January about the British commercial effort in Hong Kong. I regret the delay in replying: we naturally wanted to give your ideas a thorough airing.
I am more optimistic than you that we can ensure that the Joint Declaration sticks, while at the same time adequately promoting Britain's long term commercial interests in Hong Kong. Those interests must surely depend on Hong Kong continuing to flourish, which is precisely what the Joint Declaration is designed to achieve. Moreover, our recent decision to upgrade the Senior British Trade Commission Post and the frequency of Ministerial visits to Hong Kong with a trade aspect are measures of the importance we attach to this objective.
We have taken a good hard look at your idea of
I am rather "privatising" the British Trade Commission. inclined to think that British exporters look to the Senior British Trade Commissioner for support and influence above all because of the authority of the British Government which that office embodies. I am therefore not sure that a high profile businessman, however uninhibited and ruthless, but without that Government backing, could provide a comparable service.
However, I certainly do not want to suggest that there is
no room for improvement in the way we promote British interests in Hong Kong. Your letter has given me much food for thought; we shall be discussing all this further with the Department of Trade and Industry.
The Lord Derwent
9 Queen St
Mayfair
LONDON
W1X 7PH
Page 135Page 136
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