TNAG-2089-FCO40-2974-Diplomatic-representation-of-third-countries-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 37

BRITISH CONSULATE-GENERAL

RIO DE JANEIRO

MJ Newington CMG

7 May 1990

BRASILIA

Cimbassado

A HONG KONG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN BRAZIL

1.

Charles Tang, a leading Rio-based Chinese businessman, who is Chairman of the Brazil/China Chamber of Commerce and whom I assume to be a dual Brazilian/Chinese (PRC) national - is keen to set up a Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in Brazil. This initiative stems in part from a visit which Jack So, a senior Hong Kong trade official, made to Rio some eighteen months or so ago.

Both Tang and I met So and the latter made clear that he was keen to enhance links between Hong Kong and Latin America, especially Brazil. According to Tang, So mooted the possibility of establishing a Hong Kong Chamber during that visit.

2.

Tang has invited Albert Healey to be the first Chairman of the Hong Kong Chamber. Tang would himself be the Vice Chairman. Healey sought my views on this invitation a month or so ago, and I told him that I saw no objection but this was basically a

that

matter for Healey himself to decide, perhaps in consultation with the British Chamber of Commerce. Healey told me at the end of last week that the Rio branch of the British Chamber have now considered the matter and have agreed that there is no objection to Healey becoming the Chairman of the Hong Kong Chamber and have also agreed in principle that the Hong Kong Chamber may make use of the offices and other facilities of the British Chamber on a chargeable basis. In São Paulo the Hong Kong Chamber would make use of the facilities of the Brazil/China Chamber of Commerce which also has an office there.

3. So far so good. Tang has, however, also asked Healey whether there might be a possibility of the British Ambassador becoming Honorary President of the new Chamber. Tang also has it in mind to try to involve the Chinese Ambassador in an active but as yet undefined way. This therefore is the object of this letter - to ask you whether you would be prepared to consider becoming the first Honorary President of the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce.

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