TNAG-2746-FCO40-3961-Visits-by-Chris-Patten--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-the-UK-1993 — Page 24

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TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELNO 795

OF 011558Z SEP 93

INFO PRIORITY CANBERRA

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Yes. Good fought. dond

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Ms Scufunders

cc. to HKGO?

MUB 027/4

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REGISTRY Action Taken

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FOR PS/GOVERNMENT HOUSE

Caverion's oust

1. WE GATHER THAT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BRITAIN-AUSTRALIA SOCIETY, SIR JACK RAMPTON, HAS WRITTEN TO THE GOVERNOR INVITING HIM TO BE THE GUEST SPEAKER AT THE SOCIETY'S AUSTRALIA DAY DINNER TO BE HELD IN LONDON ON 20 JANUARY 1994.

2. IF THE GOVERNOR IS DUE TO BE HERE AT THAT TIME, WE THINK THAT IT WOULD BE VALUABLE IF HE COULD ACCEPT. THE BRITAIN-AUSTRALIA SOCIETY IS AN ACTIVE ORGANISATION WHOSE MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES LEADING FIGURES FROM INDUSTRY AND THE CITY. A SPEECH ON HONG KONG AT THE SOCIETY'S DINNER WOULD BE SURE TO BE OF GREAT INTEREST TO THOSE CONCERNED WITH AUSTRALIA. BRITISH FIRMS ARE INCREASINGLY LOOKING TO AUSTRALIA IN THE CONTEXT OF WIDER BUSINESS IN THE ASIA/PACIFIC REGION. AND, AS YOU MAY KNOW, THE AUSTRALIAN TRADE MINISTER, PETER COOK, WILL LEAD A 100-COMPANY DELEGATION TO CHINA IN SEPTEMBER.

ON THE POLITICAL LEVEL, QUITE APART FROM THE CONTINUING VALUE OF AUSTRALIAN SUPPORT FOR OUR HONG KONG POLICIES, WE HAVE AGREED WITH THE AUSTRALIANS TO ESTABLISH A CLOSER POLITICAL DIALOGUE WITH THEM ON ASIA/PACIFIC AFFAIRS. THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S FORTHCOMING VISIT TO AUSTRALIA, AND PRIME MINISTER KEATING'S VISIT HERE IN SEPTEMBER, WILL WE HOPE GIVE FURTHER IMPETUS TO THESE EXCHANGES. IF THE GOVERNOR WERE ABLE TO AGREE TO ATTEND THIS DINNER, IT WOULD GIVE ANOTHER SIGNAL OF OUR COMMITMENT TO THIS PROCESS.

4. IN 1992 THE PRIME MINISTER WAS GUEST OF HONOUR AT THE SOCIETY'S DINNER.

HURD

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