CONFIDENTIAL
MDHIA
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1720
CIRCULATION OVER A DRINK, OR FOR THE LATTER COMBINED WITH A FEW WORDS FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO MIX BUSINESSMEN INTO THIS FORMAT.
ADVANTAGES. THE SECRETARY OF STATE WOULD MEET FCO STAFF WHILE LOCALLY ENGAGED STAFF WOULD NOT BE OBLIGED TO STAY. ALL OF WHICH WOULD BE GOOD FOR MORALE.
DISADVANTAGES. IT WOULD GIVE LIMITED OR NO CHANCE FOR SERIOUS DISCUSSIONS, WOULD NOT ENABLE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO SEE THE TRADE COMMISSION AT WORK, AND EXCLUDES EXPOSURE TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
(C) A STRAIGHT DRINKS PARTY WHICH I WOULD THEN PROPOSE NOT TO GIVE IN THE OFFICE BUT AT HOME (WHICH IS CLOSE BY) OR (PARTICULARLY IF EXTRA FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE) IN THE HONG KONG CLUB, FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY (MOSTLY BRITISH BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY SO: UNDER THIS FORMAT I WOULD INCLUDE HK CHINESE AND OTHER WHO TRADE EXTENSIVELY WITH THE UK, AND A FEW OTHERS E.G. FROM GOVERNMENT, IN OUR NORMAL ORBIT), WITH TRADE COMMISSION AND OTHER FCO STAFF.
ADVANTAGES. MUCH THE MOST NATURAL EVENT FOR THE TIME OF DAY AND PERHAPS MORE ENJOYABLE FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND MRS HURD AFTER A LONG DAY. ALSO IT ENABLES GREATER EXPOSURE TO MORE PEOPLE, AND WOULD GREATLY PLEASE THE BRITISH BUSINESS COMMUNITY WHO WOULD GET THEIR ONLY SIGNIFICANT CHANCE TO MEET THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
DISADVANTAGES. I WOULD ALLOW NO CHANCE FOR SERIOUS DISCUSSION ON TRADE OR OTHER MATTERS IN WHICH WE ARE INVOLVED (E.G. CONSULATE GENERAL BUILDING), AND AS YOU WILL BE AWARE FROM RECENT TELEGRAMS THERE ARE ISSUES THAT BEAR DISCUSSION.
5. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VERY URGENT GUIDANCE ON WHICH WOULD BE PREFERRED. CLEARLY NONE ARE VERY SATISFACTORY BUT GIVEN THE TIME SLOT ON OFFER I CANNOT READILY THINK OF ANYTHING BETTER.
HEAP
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