TNAG-2660-FCO40-3856-Future-of-Hong-Kong-British-Consulate-General-1992 — Page 11

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DISCUSSION NOTE: THE NEED FOR NEW BTC OBJECTIVES

Background

1.

The current post objectives (p. o.) appear to be irrelevant to those involved, both in the FCO and in London. They are vague and do not reflect the actual concerns and priorities of the post eg the one substantive issue addressed in my handing-over notes, the British Chamber of Commerce, is not mentioned in the p. o. Short-term objectives of the

-

Commercial Section call for completion by end May of a

" commercial strategy paper for the Hong Kong market". I can find no evidence of any start being made. The British Council is not mentioned.

2.

But a list of targets is needed. During my two briefing tours in London (February and April) and first month in Hong Kong I found a wide range of opinion and advice. A consensus, however, seemed obtainable without great difficulty based on the following principles: many ideas come from within the post: -

a)

concentrate on substance and forget about high ?

profile;

b) form a clear idea of what we want to see in Hong Kong in the autumn of 1997 and move in that direction;

c)

once we know our priorities, look again at resources. (They are probably more or less right).

Detail

(a) Substance not Profile

as did

3.

While I follow the arguments for raising the profile of the TC two years or so ago, I question the wisdom many of the senior people with whom I have spoken over the past five months. A higher profile inevitably means closer scrutiny and presenting a bigger target. The chief client of British business in Hong Kong is the government and the effect on that relationship has been bad, a point made by almost everyone with whom I spoke on my briefing tours. At best the public lobbying for government contracts is seen as unwise and unnecessary at worst it is seen by some as HMG attempting to corrupt authorities for which it is responsible. Doors have been shut on BTC officials and British businessmen. The

Bow

samples?

/public

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