3
RESTRICTED
FROM:
DATE:
Mu13300/2
ان
PS/Lord Caithness
11 July 1991
TA
M
or
Mr çox Mr Stone 17/7 M. Fuevers
MY √12/2 12/7
CC:
Private Secretary
PS/Mr Garel-Jones Special Advisers
PS/PUS
Chief Clerk
Sir J Coles o/r
Mr Burns
Mr Miles
Mr Cooper, Planners Mr Colvin, SEAD
Mr Paul, HKD Mr Thomas, SPD
Mr Crystal, News Dept Mr Love, OT2/DTI
(38
Mr Davies, FED
PACIFIC RIM "BRAINSTORMING" DINNER, 10 JULY
1.
Lord Caithness hosted last night the third in his series of "brainstorming" dinners (the second on the theme of the Pacific Rim). Unlike the previous occasions, all the guests last night were bankers and businessmen with interests in the Pacific Rim (guest list attached). Consequently, the conversation was more focussed than had been possible previously. The first half of the evening concentrated on the respective roles of Government and industry in promoting British commerce in the region. Later the conversation turned to consideration of the characteristics of the different markets. Lord Caithness considers this dinner to have been the most successful and constructive of those he has hosted to date. He is keen to continue these dinners in the autumn.
HMG's Role
2. The conversation opened with responses to Lord Caithness' invitation to suggest ways in which HMG could better support Britain's export effort. Mr Wrangham (Hong Kong/Shanghai Bank) argued that British industry was hampered by the high interest rates charged by ECGD (9%), compared with its French (3%) and US (4-5%) equivalents. Mr Whitehead (Babcock) said that British industry could compete successfully with its European competitors provided the playing fields were level.
RESTRICTED
/But he needed
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.