In Hong Kong have been thinned out alarmingly. There are some very important messages here which the President should use the opportunity of this speech to get across and which would in no way dilute the key points he wants to convey. Also the second sentence of para 3 is wrong. That is why my draft (p.6, middle of page) referred to OECD statistics. When more up to date OECD statistics are published we will be seen to have fallen behind Germany.
(f) p.5 et seq.: there is no reference to UK success in the airport project (p.6 of my draft). The audience would find this startling and would question why we were so reticent. It could give credence to the belief of some in Hong Kong that the UK receives special favours in the award of airport contracts. This is not the case and a strong statement to this effect (pp6-7 of my draft) by the President at the dinner would carry considerable weight.
(g) p.5 et seq.: Mr Warrick's draft deletes all references to Cathay Pacific (p.7 of my draft). This is very regrettable. Cathay Pacific has for years been a very valuable trading partner with the UK purchasing hundreds of millions of pounds worth of UK goods including, earlier this year, a £300 million contract to Rolls Royce for aircraft engines. Also Sir Adrian Swire of Cathay Pacific is Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Association, the hosts, and will be seated at the same table as the President.
(h) p.6: the message to UK supporters has been diluted. Personally I have a strong preference for my punchier formula: (my draft, p.7 "yet I must not....").
(i) pp.7-8: the political messages here have been drastically shortened with the loss of some important points (my draft reflected the views of Hong Kong Department in the FCO). The Chinese Ambassador will be sitting three along from the President and it is important that he hears the President refer to the resolution of differences (my draft p.8 first para).
(j) p.7 para.3: I do not understand why the sentence wishing Chris Patten well (my draft p.9 second line) has been omitted surely a little ungracious?
(k) p.8 para 2: I think it is disastrous for the last sentence of an upbeat speech to refer to uncertainties for that its the thought that would be left in the audience's minds. I would offer the text of my final paragraph (my draft p.9) as a more positive conclusion.
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Alan Murray
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