TNAG-2002-FCO40-2849-Permanent-establishment-in-London-of-the-Office-of-the-Membe-1990 — Page 10

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

CONFIDENTIAL

000302

HKB Oil

ハ

MDHIAN 1793

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

23 JAN1990

DESK OFFICER

REGISTRY

INDEX

PA

Action Taken

TELNO 110

OF 09120OZ JANUARY 190

-(2)

YOUR TELNO 68: PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT OF OMELCO OFFICE IN LONDON

ALTHOUGH WE KNEW FOR SOME TIME THAT OMELCO HAD BEEN CONSIDERING AN OFFICE OF THEIR OWN IN LONDON, WE WERE NOT (NOT) CONSULTED ON THEIR DECISION. DAME LYDIA DUNN HAS JUST WRITTEN TO THE CHIEF SECRETARY FORMALLY REQUESTING FUNDING FOR THE OFFICE.

2. THE DECISION APPARENTLY STEMS FROM OMELCO'S BELIEF THAT THEIR SEPARATE IDENTITY FROM THE ADMINISTRATION HAS PROVED TO BE A SUCCESS IN THE SERVICE TO THE HONG KONG PUBLIC OVER THE WHOLE SPECTRUM OF PUBLIC BUSINESS. WITH THE GROWING NUMBER OF OMELCO DELEGATIONS VISITING THE UK, MEMBERS FEEL THAT THEY NEED A SMALL OFFICE IN LONDON, SEPARATE FROM THE HKG OFFICE AT GRAFTON STREET, TO HELP THEM COORDINATE THEIR ACTIVITIES IN THE UK. THE OFFICE WILL ARRANGE FOR MEMBERS MEETINGS WITH MINISTERS, POLITICIANS, INTERVIEWS WITH THE UK MEDIA ETC. IT IS TASKED TO ENHANCE OMELCO'S EFFORTS TO MONITOR EVENTS AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE UK WHICH MAY AFFECT HONG KONG'S INTERESTS AND TO WIDEN OMELCO'S FIELD

OF CONTACTS IN THE UK.

3. THE OFFICE IS TO BE STAFFED BY AN ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL AND A PUBLIC RELATIONS ADVISER, WITH SUPPORTING STAFF AND POSSIBLY PR CONSULTANTS.

4. ALASTAIR LANG IS LIKELY TO BE RECRUITED AS ASG AND ROSS CLARKE

WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE PR ADVISER.

5. NOTWITHSTANDING ITS SEPARATE IDENTITY, THIS OFFICE WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR OWN OFFICE IN LONDON. THE FACT THAT LANG, WHO HAS HAD LONG EXPERIENCE IN HKG AND HAS WORKED IN PEKING, HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS ASG MEANS THAT CLOSE COOPERATION WITH OUR LONDON COMMISSIONER AND THE HONG KONG DEPARTMENT SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS OMELCO OFFICE HAS NO (NO) INTENTION OF MOUNTING ANY INDEPENDENT LOBBYING CAMPAIGN ON THE NATIONALITY ISSUE DURING THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL.

WILSON

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