TNAG-2698-FCO40-3904-Diplomatic-representation-of-Hong-Kong-overseas-1993 — Page 37

RESTRICTED STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

HKA

11 MAR 1993

RESTRICTED

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 388

OF 100949Z MARCH

3

DESK OFFI

INFO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON

6

047531

MDHIAN 2814

AMENDED DISTRIBUTION

10 MAR

TO COPY DIST?

بنادر

FOR HKD FROM CSB

NEW SENIOR POST IN HONG KONG OFFICE IN WASHINGTON

1. DURING HIS RECENT VISIT TO LONDON AND WASHINGTON, MR WIGGHAM (SCS) DISCUSSED POSSIBLE WORKING TITLES FOR THE NEW SENIOR ECONOMIC AND TRADE AFFAIRS REPRESENTATIVE IN THE USA. AFTER DISCUSSION HERE AND WITH OUR OFFICE IN WASHINGTON WE CONSIDER THAT HONG KONG COMMISSIONER FOR ECONOMIC AND TRADE AFFAIRS, USA' WOULD BE THE PREFERRED TITLE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE POST WOULD STILL BE ACCREDITED TO THE EMBASSY AS 'MINISTER'.

2. WE ARE UNDER CONSIDERABLE PRESSURE HERE IF WE ARE TO GET THE POST APPROVED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT SUB-COMMITTEE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE IN GOOD TIME. WE WOULD THEREFORE BE GRATEFUL FOR EARLY CONFIRMATION THAT YOU AND WASHINGTON DO NOT SEE DIFFICULTY WITH

THE PROPOSED WORKING TITLE.

3. WE HAVE CONSIDERED WHETHER WE SHOULD INFORM THE CHINESE OF THE NEW POST AND TITLE. BUT GIVEN THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES, WE CONSIDER THIS UNWISE AS IT WOULD ONLY RESULT IN DELAYS. IF THE CHINESE PICK UP ON IT LATER, WE CAN ALWAYS SAY THAT OUR US OFFICERS ARE ACCREDITED TO THE BRITISH DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS THERE (AND THEREFORE NOT OF CHINESE CONCERN) BUT THAT AS WITH THE PREVIOUS EXERCISE TO SEPARATE OUT AN ETO (BRUSSELS), WE WOULD CONSULT THE CHINESE ON THEIR STATUS AND TITLES LATER ON.

PATTEN

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RESTRICTED STAFF IN CONFIDENCE