TNAG-2796-FCO40-4036-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-international-organisations-1993 — Page 24

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1 huu 1993

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CO HUM, AUSS 13 August 1993 Sir J Coles

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Tur Peirce

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Mr Mortis, HKD

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Mr Ricketts HKD, O/R

M. Bunk

Mr Fry, FED

APEC LEADERS' MEETING

сы C''d you

follow

asking Mr week or

Ashton in

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two whetter His has dee logged?

1. One small thought has occurred to me about Hong Kong participation at the APEC Leaders' meeting in Seattle. As you know, the Governor's current thinking is that Hong Kong would best be represented by the Financial Secretary

(Mr Macleod).

2.

I wonder whether there would not be a stronger case for representation by a senior local official, perhaps the Secretary for Trade and Industry. There are two reasons, one presentation and one substantive. In terms of presentation I would see advantage in representation of the Hong Kong of the future (a Chinese territory) rather than the Hong Kong of the past (a British colony). In terms of substance, there could well be opportunities for private exchanges between the delegations from Peking and from Hong Kong (and for that matter from Taipei). These exchanges could be quite valuable at a time when so many of the official links between the Hong Kong and Peking Governments are constrained. There is more chance of significant exchanges if these are between Chinese.

3.

Of course much will depend on the eventual format of the meeting. But it might be worth keeping this thought in mind, and feeding it in gently to Hong Kong. A quiet word with Mr Ashton or Mr Peirce might be the best way.

Conten

CO Hum