TNAG-2032-FCO40-2895-Visit-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1990 — Page 119

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COMPANIES ARE EITHER BRITISH, E.G. DUNHILL, GLAXO OR INCHCAPE, OR HAVE BRITISH ORIGINS, SUBSTANTIAL BRITISH SHAREHOLDINGS, AND BRITISH MANAGEMENT E.G. SWIRES, JARDINES AND HONG KONG BANK, OR ARE BRITISH MANAGED AND PLACE VERY LARGE ORDERS IN THE UK, EG CHINA LIGHT AND POWER. THE IMPORTS FROM THE UK OF THESE COMPANIES ADD UP TO HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF POUNDS PER ANNUM. I HAVE TOLD THE BUSINESSMEN THAT THE FORMAT, SUBJECT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VIEWS AT THE TIME, MIGHT BE A ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION FOR 30 MINUTES ON THEIR PERCEPTION OF THE CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS IN HONG KONG, THE FUTURE PARTICULARLY AS SEEN FROM A BUSINESS ANGLE, THE EFFECTS OF THE BRAIN DRAIN ETC.

5. I HAVE ARRANGED NO SEPARATE PROGRAMME FOR MRS HURD, AND UNDERSTAND THAT FOLLOWING YOUR TELNO 103 SHE WILL NOW BE LEAVING THE TRADE COMMISSION AT 15.40 (AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DISCUSSION WITH BUSINESSMEN) FOR THE BRITISH COUNCIL. MY WIFE WILL BE PRESENT AT THE TRADE COMMISSION TO ESCORT MRS HURD. WE COULD ALSO, IF MRS HURD WISHES, ORGANISE A SMALL DSWA GATHERING (SMALL BECAUSE MANY OF OUR WIVES WORK ELSEWHERE) OVER A CUP OF TEA TO TAKE PLACE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TRADE COMMISSION VISIT AND BEFORE THE TOUR OF THE OFFICE, OR WHICH ALTERNATIVELY COULD BE COULD BE AT OUR FLAT, WHICH IS FIVE MINUTES AWAY, FOR THE ENTIRE 1430 TO 1520 SLOT.

6. I WILL PLAN ON THE ABOVE BASIS AND APPRECIATE THAT YOU WILL HAVE LITTLE OR NO TIME TO GIVE ANY REACTIONS BEFORE YOUR OWN DEPARTURE. IF, HOWEVER, ANY OF THE PROPOSALS DO NOT FIND FAVOUR YOU WILL NO DOUBT BE ABLE TO LET ME KNOW ON ARRIVAL: ALSO WHETHER THE SECRETARY OF STATE WOULD WISH TO ADDRESS ALL STAFF AND WHETHER MRS HURD WOULD LIKE US TO GATHER TOGETHER SUCH DSWA MEMBERS AS MIGHT BE AVAILABLE.

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