TNAG-2660-FCO40-3856-Future-of-Hong-Kong-British-Consulate-General-1992 — Page 95

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other British missions. Preparing for this role will be the

most sensitive part of the exercise. We need to reconcile

two conflicting objectives:

not undermining the Governor as the single source of

advice to Ministers on Hong Kong issues until 1997. The

previous Governor was concerned that the development of the

SBTC's political role before 1997 would risk crossed wires

and undermine the Governor's position. Both Lord Wilson and

now Mr Patten have accepted that members of UKREP JLG should

do some informal political reporting on Hong Kong provided tht this is copied to the Governor. But the appearance of a

political role for the SBTC is more sensitive. The Governor

is sangurine about the gradual assumption of political

functions by SBTC but expects him to avoid public statements

which could be interpreted as critical of HKG's policies.

Giving SBTC the tools he needs (in terms of staff and of

political contacts around Hong Kong) to perform effectively

as the Senior British representative in the territory after

1997.

14. The BTC have at Ministers' request, already made a

start in discreetly expanding their range of contacts. The

BTC now has an information officer with a brief to promote

HMG's policies in Hong Kong (which are not always identical

to HKG's). Mr Heap himself played a more visible role as

SBTC. In part this was a natural consequence of the dramatic increase in major project business in Hong Kong, which involved Mr Heap in frequent contact with the most

senior British businessment and bankers and in lobbying HKG

on behalf of HMG. Mr Heap has also widened the circle of

his entertaining, for example introducing visiting British

Ministers to local Hong Kong politicians as well as to business figures. Mr Day will continue this informal

expansion in his areas of interest, through this will be

done with sensitivity to avoid any suggestion of undermining

the Governor

JM1ADV/2

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