TNAG-2626-FCO40-3817-British-Trade-Commission-in-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 4

PERSONAL AND MANAGEMENT IN CONFIDENCE

business community (precisely because it is off-beam) is worth a report by telegram

-

in this case

accompanied by an appropriate HKG-approved

clarification. In the event, this second problem

created no lasting difficulties: when asked you produced useful advice on which the DTI have acted.

8.

I am glad to see from your letter of 13 November that you intend to devote more resources to initiative visits. They can play an important role in gathering material for general reporting purposes, as well as being a key method for identifying specific export opportunities.

Profile

9.

We agreed with you in July that, with a new, "political" Governor in place, there was no longer a call for you to promote your own role as Senior British Trade Commissioner in quite the way that your predecessor had been asked to do. All (including the Governor) are agreed that you have done a splendid job of establishing good lines of communication with Government House, and eliminating any local perception that you might be an alternative focus of HMG's authority in Hong Kong.

10.

But there remains an important job to be done in presenting a bullish and high-profile image of the UK in Hong Kong. This applies particularly to the question of UK business competitiveness and continuing commitment to Hong Kong and the region. (This is the reason for the

To this inclusion of long-term objective number seven.) end we see a continuing need for you and the Trade Commission to maintain a rather higher profile than you have adopted to date. As you enjoy a solid relationship with the Governor, there is no need to be shy of making well-targetted speeches extolling UK business, nor of getting your name in the papers (or your face on TV) in that connection.

The Region and South China

11.

You will not miss the emphasis which the revised objectives give to the broader regional dimension, including South China. The DTI are particularly concerned that, with the increasing interdependence of Hong Kong and South China, and the high level of activity by Hong Kong entrepreneurs there and in other regional markets, the BTC should play as pro-active a role as possible in getting alongside those Hong Kong entrepreneurs to idenitfy opportunities and assist British business into the South China market.

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The