TNAG-1967-FCO40-2799-Confidence-building-measures-for-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 28

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053761

MDLIAN 5242

SOME OF THOSE WITH HEADQUARTERS IN LONDON COULD MOVE HERE) (AND

SUBSIDISE THEM TO DO SO?), IT IS IMPORTANT TO ENCOURAGE OVERSEAS COMPANIES TO KEEP THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, AND THEIR REGIONAL HEAD OFFICES IN HONG KONG. THIS HOWEVER IS MORE FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT (IT DID NOT HELP THAT HUTCHISON/BRITISH TELECOM RECENTLY

LOST OUT ON THE BID FOR THE CABLE TV PROJECT IN FAVOUR OF THEIR COMPETITORS, AND THUS, AS REPORTED, OPENED UP THE PROSPECT OF BRITISH TELECOM MOVING THEIR REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS FROM HERE).

PERHAPS WE COULD ENCOURAGE INTERNATIONAL SPORTING, CULTURAL OR OTHER BODIES TO STAGE MORE EVENTS HERE (1996 OR 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES, ASIAN OR COMMONWEALTH GAMES?) CALL OUR EFFORT TO BOOK AS MANY INTERNATIONAL EVENTS, CONVENTIONS ETC INTO HONG KONG AS POSSIBLE IN

COMING YEARS).

(VI) FURTHER PROGRESS ON UPGRADING THE STATUS OF THE BRITISH

GOVERNMENT PRESENCE HERE AND PARTICULARLY IN THE PREPARATIONS FOR A BUILDING (THE EVENTUAL BRITANNIA HOUSE CONCEPT) TO HOUSE THE CONSUL-

ATE GENERAL AND ANCILLARY FUNCTIONS. (I STILL FIND IT HARD TO

BELIEVE THAT THIS COULD ONLY BE DONE AT FULL MARKET RATES AND THAT

THE HONG KONG ADMINISTRATION COULD NOT PROVIDE SOME SUBSTANTIAL

ASSISTANCE: E.G. A PRIVATE TREATY GRANT OF LAND TO A PRIVATE

DEVELOPER ON CONDITION THAT HE PROVIDED US WITH A FREE CONSULATE GENERAL, IS ONE POSSIBILITY. SUCH A CLEAR DEMONSTRATION OF BRITAIN'S CONTINUNG COMMITMENT WOULD BE OF BENEFIT TO HONG KONG). WE

GET A LOT OF MEDIA ENQUIRIES ABOUT THIS AND OUR INABILITY TO REPORT

ANY PROGRESS USUALLY PRODUCES CHARGES THAT WE ARE DELIBERATELY

DRAGGING OUR FEET OVER A LONG TERM COMMITMENT TO A STRONG BRITISH GOVERNMENT PRESENCE.

(VII) OFFER TO MAKE GRANTS OF

AND THIRD UNIVERSITY (POUNDS

PROPOSALS FOR THESE WERE PUT

EQUIPMENT TO THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC

STERLING 1 MILLION EACH?). PRELIMINARY

FORWARD SOME TIME AGO.

(VIII) BRITAIN TO BE SEEN TO BE TAKING A HIGH PROFILE AND VISIBLE LEAD AMONG E.G. EC, COMMONWEALTH AND U.S. TO GET SUPPORT AND ASSIST- ANCE WITH ALL MEASURES OF THE ABOVE TYPE, AND, SO FAR AS IS PRACTICAL, GUARANTEES OF SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG.

(IX) IF WE WERE TO TRY TO HELP HONG KONG IN THESE OR SIMILAR WAYS, AND THEREBY ALSO DEMONSTRATE OUR OWN ACCEPTANCE OF A MORAL OBLIGATION AND COMMITMENT HERE, I HOPE WE COULD LINK OUR EFFORTS WITH THE SUGGESTION THAT HONG KONG IN TURN PAYS SOME SLIGHTLY GREATER REGARD FOR BRITAIN'S EFFORTS TO TRADE IN HONG KONG AS PROPOSED IN MY TELNOS 342 AND 367.

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