Sessional_Paper_1948 — Page 198

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and thereby enabled the Hong Kong stall to be an outstanding success. We also record our indebtedness at the Hong Kong end for the advice and encouragement which was given to the Committee's efforts by Mr. W. P. Montgomery, U.K. Trade Commissioner, Dr. S. G. Davis for copies of trade charts, to Messrs. Harry Wicking for printing these charts, to the Immigration Officer for his help and advice on travel documents, to the Secretary of ZBW for arranging programmes publicising the Fair, and to the Secretary of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce for supplying accommodation for Committee meetings. In addition, we would record our warmest appreciation of the aid given to the Committee by Mr. E. G. A. Grimwood and staff of the Hong Kong London Office. We are aware that Mr. Grimwood and his staff worked long hours of overtime to enable this Fair to be a success, and they were called upon to handle difficult problems without the immediate help of the Hong Kong Committee. We record our deep debt of gratitude to these helpers in London without whose unstinted aid the Fair could not have been a success. Finally, we express our thanks to our Secretary Mr. J. W. Ferris, who volunteered to undertake the unattractive duties con- nected with the Secretarial work of the Committee.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE.

15. In view of the success of this our first venture, it is perhaps unnecessary that the Committee should record that its first recommendation is that Hong Kong should participate in the British Industries Fair to be held in 1949, and it is on the assumption that this recommendation will be adopted that the Committee proceeds to make further recommendations.

We are of the opinion that the arrangements in Hong Kong should be or- ganised as early as possible in order to be prepared for the Exhibition in time. In this connection, it should be pointed out that in view of the time which is necessary for firms to prepare their exhibits, the literature to accompany them, and perhaps the necessary show-cards, all of which must follow on a firm decision having been made to participate, it is desirable that the organisers should be in office at the earliest possible moment. The Committee therefore recommends that a permanent British In- dustries Fair Committee be set up by the Government. The composition of this Com- mittee would include one member appointed from the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, one from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, one from the Kowloon Cham- ber of Commerce, and one from the Chinese Manufacturers' Union. The Superintendent of the Imports and Exports Department should be the Convenor, and the United King- dom Trade Commissioner should also be asked to join the Committee. In order to preserve continuity from one Committee to another, it is suggested that the Secretary to the Committee should be the Secretary of the Imports and Exports Department.

There will, however, be expenses such as advertising, postage, and printing, which will have to be met in the early stages of the Committee's work, and the Com- mittee recommends that a sum to meet such expenses should be included in the estimates of the Imports and Exports Department each year. These expenses should be recoverable from the exhibitors at a later date.

16. Probably, the dominant factor in the success of Hong Kong's participation this year was the London Office of the Hong Kong Government. Without this con- nection in the United Kingdom it would have been impossible not only to organisc the staff and display the exhibits as cheaply as was the case, but also to arrange expeditiously for the representatives from Hong Kong to meet officials and business men in England interested in this Colony and to visit factories in which they were interested. In addition, it provided an office where those representatives could work and a focal point through which they could obtain all the information which they re- quired at the shortest possible notice. We would strongly recommend that the Hong Kong Office in London be continued and that it should be encouraged to extend its activities by advertising Hong Kong in England as well as affording a terminal con- tact for business enquiries from Hong Kong and for business men visiting the Home country.. We are of the opinion that for trading purposes alone, an office maintained in London could be justified.