TNAG-2756-FCO40-3973-Hong-Kong-Business-Works-Conference--London-address-by-John-1993 — Page 5

9 November 1993

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~8 NOV 1993

Foreign & Commonwealth

Office

HKD

3

London SW1A 2AH

Der Roderie

"HONG KONG WORKS" CONFERENCE

Thank you for your letter of 8 November asking for comments on the draft of the Prime Minister's speech for the conference on 10 November.

We do not believe that the passage on the talks with China needs any change. We have suggested in manuscript on the draft below some further beefing up of the points about the business opportunities in Hong Kong.

I enclose a somewhat expanded section on the Asia/Pacific to replace that on page 3. However, our ability to spell out the action we intend to take to give substance to the new policy is inhibited by the outcome of the PES round. Our bid for an extra £5 million or so to intensify our political and commercial activity in the Asia/Pacific did not succeed. We shall therefore have to go back to the drawing board and see whether the practical

Until that steps we had in mind can still be taken. process is complete we believe it is best to continue to describe the policy in general terms.

I am copying this letter to Peter Smith (DTI).

Roderic Lyne Esq CMG 10 Downing Street

Yours ever,

Stemm

(J S Smith)

Private Secretary