QUESTION:
Could we get that in another way.
Suppose, Hong Kong were to disappear in ano ther way?
}
SIR DAVID TRENCH: I do not know how you would do it.
Get some of it, remittances abroad. They would not get the
whole lot. They would lose Hong Kong market for food.
QUESTION: Would you like to give an estimate of
the benefit as to sterling to Britain of Hong Kong being as
it is?
SIR DAVID TRENCH: The, trade between Britain and Hong Kong is roughly in balance and it amounts to £60 million sterling
in each direction. £60 million worth of exports that Britain
sells for dollars which is hard currency. If Hong Kong was not
there she would probably sell somewhere what she gets from Hong Kong but from somewhere else it means the net result would be
a loss of £60 million of exports.
QUESTION: Who are the other large customers of
Hong Kong
SIR DAVID TRENCH:
America, Britain, Western Europe,
Germany. Most of our trade goes to, the developed countries,
most of our customers are developed countries.
QUESTION: What is the largest industry?
SIR DAVID TRENCH:
Textiles and garments.
QUESTION: How many troops do we have out there?
SIR DAVID TRENCH:
6 major units.
QUESTION: What is that in people?
}
SIR DAVID TRENCH: I do not know. The Army never
thinks in those terms. The Army talks in terms of major units.
About 9,000.
QUESTION: Have there been any recent withdrawals
due to extra commitments?
SIR DAVID TRENCH: Not with Hong Kong.
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