20/69
21/69
-3-
(3) It was pointed out that a BNEC man, established in Hong Kong
would, in fact, be carrying out the functions of the Trade Commissioner's Office, but doubt was expressed whether the staff of the Trade Commissioner's Office was large enough to do the concentrated research required. The Chairman mentioned that Mr. II. M. G. Forsgate of the HongKong and Kowloon Wharf & Godown Company was 'appointed a member of the H.K.T.A.G. when it was first formed, but virtually no use had been made of him. The need for a resident member had therefore been recognised, but the meeting folt it required someone working full time.
In respect of (+), it was considered that the best way to remove the prevailing doubts about Hong Kong as a market, or as a suitable place for the establishment of a factory was to 'arrange for top British Executives to see the territory and to be given the opportunity for free discussion with all interested. parties in the Colony. This would be in the nature of a high level management course, which would have to be carefully planned and organised.
(5) Concentration on the or four items with the best potential
was agrood.
(1)
After discussion it was agreed to refer the following to the Asia Committee for consideration:-
A BNEC representative should be sent to Hong Kong to work in close co-operation with the Trade Commission, with a view to identifying market opportunities.
(ii) More advantage should be taken of visits to this country
of Hong Kong based British businessmen to talk to U.K. manufacturers throughout the country.
(iii) Specially selected inward missions should be encouraged
to visit this country, comprising top level executives in business using textile machinery and other capital goods. (iv) A list should be prepared of selected commodities in which
it was considered that British exports to Hong Kong could be improved, and a desk exercise undertaken to pre-determino the capacity of industry in this country to moot potential orders.
(v) Once this was determined, efforts should be made to persuade
Trade Associations to nominate representatives to particim to in a top level seminar in the Colony.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
(a) The report by Mark Goodfellow titled "Hong Kong, the Far Eastern Wonder Market". It was agreed that Members should send their commonts on this report, if any, to John Gowers by the end of the week, after which copics should be made available for publication in part, or as a whole, in Chamber of Commerce and Trade Association journals.
(b) Mr. Gowors reported that it was likely that he himself would be
visiting Hong Kong from the 28th June to the 3rd July as part of a short tour of South East Asia.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
No decision was taken on the date of the next meeting which was left at the Chairman's discretion, and would be notified later.