TNAG-2923-FCO40-4198-Visits-and-proposed-visits-by-Alastair-Goodlad--Minister-of--1993 — Page 5

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Minister wrote to the Chairman of the SNEOA on 5 October to

explain HKG's policy, and to point out that the number of

expats likely to qualify was so small that it was unlikely to have much practical effect on non-expats' career prospects.

British Chamber/British Consulate General

8.

The meeting and dinner with the British Chamber of

Commerce (Brief No 8) will provide an opportunity to discuss

continued British commercial involvement in Hong Kong,

focussing in particular upon the Chamber's strategic plan and

on their interest in taking space in the new Consulate General building. The Chamber's main concern on the building

is to secure a low rent, but they also have reservations

about whether co-location would be good for them if

Sino-British relations were to deteriorate. The Minister has

agreed to take part in a Ground-cutting ceremony to launch

the new building. The site-formation contract has been won

by Gammon. Mr Needham wrote to Mr Goodlad on 28 September to express the hope that the main building contract would be

awarded to a British firm.

Bilaterals

9.

In his Breakfast with the Governor (Brief No 9) the

Minister may wish to explore further the Governor's views on

constitutional development, and touch on HMOCS (the Secretary

of State has now agreed to meet Mr Portillo on 26 October); localisation; Nationality and visa-free travel for Hong Kong

people; and JLG issues. The meeting with Mr Davies (Brief

No 11) (who has just succeed Mr Galsworthy at UKREP JLG) is

likely to focus on the near moribund status of the JLG, and how we might galvanise the body. After encouraging prior

indications, JLG XXVII was (like its two predecessors) disappointing. There is still some prospect of an early

agreement on Defence Lands, but in all other areas the sound of Chinese foot-dragging if deafening. The Minister will

also have a meeting with Mr Cornish (Brief No 12) the new

Senior British Trade Commissioner.

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