TNAG-2036-FCO40-2900-Visits-from-countries-other-than-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 166

RESTRICTED

B/7

нив

MKB 1247

108

136727

MOLIAN 5154

.1990

RESTRICTED

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY PORT OF SPAIN

TELNO 2

OF 110742Z JULY 90

INFO ROUTINE FCO, NAIROBI

G

VISIT OF MINISTER OF INDUSTRY, ENTERPRISE AND TOURISM TO HONG KONG

1. I HAVE RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM THE INDIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER IN NAIROBI (WHO PREVIOUSLY SERVED BOTH HERE AND IN PORT OF SPAIN), THAT DR B D TEWARIE PLANS TO VISIT HONG KONG FROM 14 18 JULY. HIS MAIN PURPOSE IS APPARENTLY TO MAKE BUSINESS CONTACTS AND TALK TO POTENTIAL INVESTORS WHO MIGHT BE ATTRACTED TO TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO. WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO PUT HIM IN TOUCH WITH PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP IN PROVIDING SUCH CONTACTS. WE HAVE ON THE STRENGTH OF THIS MESSAGE CONTACTED THE HONORARY CONSUL HERE, WHO TELLS US THAT DR TEWARIE IS VISITING FROM 25 29 JULY, AND AGAIN BRIEFLY BETWEEN 30 - 31 JULY. WE UNDERSTAND THAT DUNNING AND ASSOCIATES, A FIRM OF BUSINESS CONSULTANTS, HAVE BEEN HIRED TO MAKE ALL ARRANGEMENTS FOR DR TEWARIE'S CALL, WE HAVE CONFIRMED WITH MR WIMPRESS OF DUNNING THAT THEY HAVE ARRANGEMENTS IN HAND. THERE SEEMS LITTLE DOUBT THAT THE DATES INDICATED BY DUNNING ARE CORRECT.

2. WE WOULD NOT OF COURSE STAND IN THE WAY OF SUCH A VISIT: BUT EQUALLY WE ARE NOT KEEN ACTIVELY TO ENCOURAGE VISITS AIMED AT ATTRACTING NERVOUS INVESTORS TO SHIFT FUNDS FROM HONG KONG TO TRINIDAD. WE THEREFORE INTEND TO LEAVE IT TO DUNNING (ASSISTED IF NECESSARY BY THE HONORARY CONSUL) TO PUT THE MINISTER IN TOUCH WITH NEUTRAL TRADE BODIES SUCH AS THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND

LOCAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE. THIS THEY ARE NOW DOING.

3. IN VIEW OF THE POSSIBLE CONFUSION OVER DATES, WE WOULD NEVERTHELESS BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD PASS THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE TO THE MINISTER:

QUOTE THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS HEARD FROM MR D'SOUZA, INDIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER IN NAIROBI, THAT MINISTER TEWARIE WILL BE VISITING HONG KONG IN LATE JULY FOR FOUR DAYS AND THAT THE MINISTER WISHES TO MAKE BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT CONTACTS DURING HIS VISIT. WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT DUNNING AND ASSOCIATES HAVE BEEN ASKED TO ARRANGE A FOUR DAY PROGRAMME FOR THE MINISTER BETWEEN 25 AND 29 JULY. DUNNING AND ASSOCIATES ARE WE UNDERSTAND ARRANGING

1

PAGE

RESTRICTED