TNAG-2661-FCO40-3857-Future-of-Hong-Kong-British-Consulate-General-1992 — Page 125

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BELIEVE THEY SEE A NEED FOR THIS CO-ORDINATION. I MIGHT BE THE CHAIRMAN, THE SECRETARY THE MO OF THE BTC (MR.JARVIS), AND ONE PA SHOULD BE DEDICATED TO THE TASK ON A PART TIME BASIS.

LIAISON WITH CUSTOMERS

6.

IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE KEEP IN STEP WITH THE MAJOR BRITISH COMMERCIAL INTERESTS IN HONG KONG. I HAVE TALKED INDIVIDUALLY WITH THE HEADS OF THE MAJOR BRITISH CONCERNS AND BELIEVE THERE IS A GENERAL CONSENSUS ON OUR GOALS. OUR AIM WOULD BE TO MEET A SENIOR LEVEL INFORMALLY AROUND MY DINING TABLE AT, SAY, TWO MONTHLY INTERVALS. CONCURRENTLY, WE WOULD BUILD UP THE BRITISH CHAMBER AS THE PRINCIPAL PUBLIC VOICE OF BRITISH BUSINESS. THAT PROCESS WILL, IN ITSELF, ENABLE US TO KEEP THE COMMERCIAL/ECONOMIC STAFF OF THE NEW BTC TRIM AND EFFECTIVE. THE COMPANIES ARE READY TO PUT UP CASH. I HAVE, IN PARALLEL, ALREADY MADE ONE SPECIFIC PROPOSAL IN RESPECT OF THE HONG KONG BANK WHICH MUST BE OUR MAIN PARTNER IN THIS EXERCISE (MY TELNO 192, NOT TO ALL).

SWIRES

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7. AS I STRESSED TO MR.WHITTLE (OED) AND OTHERS, WE DEAL WITH SWIRES AT SEVERAL LEVELS WITH SIR ADRIAN SWIRE, WITH THE CHAIRMAN AND DIRECTORS OF SWIRE PACIFIC AND WITH SWIRE PROPERTIES, WHICH IS PART OF THE LOCAL GROUP. THEY, WITH THE HONG KONG BANK, ARE PROBABLY THE MOST SOPHISTICATED BRITISH OPERATION IN TOWN AND THEIR VIEWS ON THE OPERATION OF THE FUTURE CONSULATE-

GENERAL ARE IMPORTANT. THE DIRECTORS APPRECIATE THE NEED TO

ENSURE THAT SWIRE PROPERTIES UNDERSTAND THE WIDER INTERESTS OF THE SWIRE GROUP, PARTICULARLY IN RESPECT OF THE COMMERCIAL SECTION OF THE CONSULATE-GENERAL. THE PROCESS OF CO-ORDINATION IS

BEGINNING.

ARCHITECTS

8.

WHICHEVER GROUP IS CHOSEN AS ARCHITECTS FOR THE BUILDING MUST HAVE AN OFFICE IN HONG KONG MANNED BY A SENIOR EXECUTIVE

CAPABLE OF DEALING AT ALL LEVELS WITH THOSE INVOLVED IN THE

PROJECT. THAT IS THE ADVICE WE GIVE TO ANY COMPANY INTERESTED IN UNDERTAKING BUSINESS IN HONG KONG. SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES TO THE DESIGN WILL HAVE TO BE DISCUSSED HERE BEFORE SUBMISSION TO LONDON FOR APPROVAL. THIS REQUIREMENT SHOULD BE WRITTEN INTO THE

CONTRACT.

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