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15. 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). The former senior British Trade Commissioner, Mr Heap
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 businessmen and bankers
and in lobbying HKG on behalf of HMG. Mr Heap 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 has been encouraged to
continue this informal expansion in his areas of interest
while avoiding any suggestion of undermining the Governor.
16. Part of the preparation for the SBTC and his staff to
play a full political role after 1997 will be ensuring that
they are adequately briefed on all aspects of British interests in Hong Kong. It would be helpful on this for the
BTC to have its own separate secure communications well before
1997 (at present these pass physically through Government
House). But this has resource implications. In terms of staffing:
a new DS5 post as the core of the future chancery section
should be created by about 1996. This should be a Chinese language speaking post to enable the officer to develop a wide
range of contacts in Hong Kong. In advance of 1997, the job
description should nominally be economic/commercial.
the next Deputy SBTC (due to take over in 1995) should be a
fast stream DS4 who could also take on some political work in
the mission.
brief.consgen.BTC
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