BRIEF FOR VISIT TO HONG KONG BY MINISTER FOR TRADE
30 AUGUST
-
5 SEPTEMBER 1980
BRIEF 4
UK/HONG KONG TRADE AND INVESTMENT
POINTS TO MAKE
1
The visit will provide a good opportunity to help counter- act the rather critical view of the British economic and industrial performance often held in Hong Kong. In addition to re-stating the Government's firm commitment to a strict economic policy at home the Minister could draw on the following:
i British industry has the expertise and technology to help upgrade many sectors of Hong Kong industry by supplying advanced machinery and equipment, as well as large-scale projects.
ii
The
There are encouraging signs that UK industry is now giving the Hong Kong market the serious attention it deserves. resurgence of British interest in many sectors is helping us recover some of the lost ground.
iii Both the UK and Hong Kong are dependent upon trade. Hong Kong is our second biggest market in E Asia after Japan and we welcome the recent substantial growth in trade between us.
3
iv The opening up of China's market to the West is one area in which I can see increasing potential for progress and co-operation between Hong Kong and the UK. I hope that British and Hong Kong companies can take advantage of the opportunities to collaborate Lon projects in China.
V
HMG will continue to adhere to its traditional free trade
We believe that protective measures must be reserved for the most serious problems which need exceptional remedies.
policy.
vi
UK investment in Hong Kong. We are aware that the response fro UK industry has been poor compared to the Americans and Japanese. The decision to invest overseas must be for the commercial judgemen
of individual firms.