TNAG-2679-FCO40-3876-British-Trade-Commission--Hong-Kong--and-China-Trade-Unit-re-1993 — Page 107

Note for File

TC

Mr Smith/or

CC:

MKA 120/1

Comme Rpty

AUG 1993

phi

copy.

Reference

@hyndon (or)

(3) File TPS/maciół

spps/

24

SE Asia

Mr Buohanan, British Council ✓Mr Lyndon Edwards, Environment

Flease copy to?

olt.

418193

Division 1A, DTI

-

Mr Murray, XAAA28, DTI (Fax No 71-215-4701)

HRD, FCO

FED, FCO

(Fax No 71-270-3387)

(Fax No 71-270-2668)

by fax (071) 215-2909

UK ENVIRONMENTAL EXPORTS: CALL ON MR GEORGE CARDONA

.endo)

1. I paid an initial call on George Cardona, Group Planning Controller, Hongkong Bank, on 4 August to follow up Mr Needham's letter to him of 9 July. I explained that I was only temporarily in BTC. He confessed that he too would soon be transferred back to London and that his place as Chairman of the Private Sector Committee on the Environment would be taken by Mr Clint Marshall, Assistant General Manager, Corporate Banking as from mid September.

2. He gave me a good deal of background on the PSCE on the Centre of Environmental Technology (CET) which added little to the information on the file (but see the attached brochure (®)). He confirmed that the CET would transfer into its new premises at the beginning of 1995. He showed me the plans (a very handsome circular building on land given free by the Hong Kong Government and funded entirely by the private sector). Construction was about to start with completion due by the end of 1994. The CET is changing its name to (?) the. Private Sector Committee for Environmental Technology. Its staff will increase from its present half dozen to about fifteen.

3. Turning to Mr Needham's letter, Mr Cardona was keen to ensure that we follow up on the various points. I had to tell him that the BWIG trade mission planned for October had been cancelled for lack of support. This was disappointing. Generally, however, such missions attracted fairly small companies. Given that the UK had established consultancy firms in Hong Kong in the environmental protection area, it seemed to me that we should be encouraging was a much more directed combined effort by more substantial British companies. Mr Cardona agreed. We also agreed that, although British consultants could theoretically help British companies, their credibility depended on their neutrality as between suppliers. It was therefore up to suppliers to work at the opportunities themselves. I mentioned the DTI's recently produced Guide to UK Environmental Technology and Services. I thought that copies had been sent to the CET but I would check and if possible send Mr Cardona a separate copy.

DE 18-77