TNAG-2466-FCO40-3590-Economic-situation-in-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 125

Mr Broadbent

ECONOMIC ADVICE

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FROM: P F Ricketts

Hong Kong Department DATE: 14 February 1992

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cc: Mr Burns

I am

1. Many thanks for your helpful note of 10 February.

glad that Chris Lane is now working on Hong Kong affairs, and hope he will be able to attend some of our office

meetings he was most welcome at his first this Monday.

hope he will also feel free to send us any thoughts and

advice on Hong Kong economic matters.

2.

The Secretary of State agreed with you at this week's

Hong Kong seminar about the importance of keeping close tabs on major economic developments in Hong Kong,

Hose

H

particularly with Chinese dimensions, to ensure that we do not face any unpleasant surprises. Your assistance in this will be very important. Equally important, I think, will be

a need to make sure that Ministers and senior Officials do

not over-react simply because some of the figures they see are very large. Hong Kong has managed its fiscal and economic affairs well in the past and sometimes events need

to be put into context.

3. We shall try to ensure that you and/or Mr Lane are on

all relevant telegram distributions.

MVSACS/1

TG

hobeits

PF Ricketts