CODE 18-77
Reference
MEETING WITH SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (HKGCC): 2 SEPTEMBER 1980
Present:
Mr Parkinson
1
Mr Regan
Mr Audsley
Mr Nightingale
Mr Harrison
Mr Wilson
Mr Gibson
Mr March
Mr Morrison Mrs Gingell Mr Bailey
The Hon D K Newbigging JP
Mr J L Marden CBE MA JP
Mr H Garlick
Mr D Koo
Mr JC Tang OBE
Mr E Tsu JP
Dr J S W Wong
Mr Ko Chi Ming
Mr N J Sousa
Mr D Stirling
Mr J Schoonhoven
Chairman, HKGCC
Chairman, Wheelock Marden & Co Ltd Acting Director, HKGCC
Managing Director, Shui Hing Co Ltd Chairman and Managing Director, South Sea Textile Mfg. Co Ltd Company Secretary, Island Dyeing and Printing Co Ltd
Managing Director, China Dyeing Works Ltd
Director, Stylette Garment Factory Ltd
Managing Director, Dodwell Intl
Buying Offices Ltd.
Manager, Deacon & Co Ltd
Managing Director, Borneo Sumatra Trading Co (HK) Ltd
Mr Newbigging welcomed the mission and explained that the HKGCC was entirely independent of Government, although it did of course work closely with the HKTDC and other Governmental bodies, and there was a good deal of cross-membership with those bodies. The HKGCC had some 2,500 members, of whom 59% were involved in trading, 28% in manufacturing, 6% in the provision of commercial services, 4% in transport, 2% in professional services and 1% in other businesses. The Council had 20 sub-committees, some concerned with functional issues and some with geographical areas. Mr Newbigging added that there was tremendous interest in HK in expanding HK-UK trade in both directions. Mr Parkinson introduced the members of the mission and explained that the objective of the mission was to examine whether, and if so how, British exports of fabric to HK could be increased. A number of possible ways had been suggested: for instance, simplification of the outward processing duty relief scheme, and encouraging UK retailers to specify the use of British cloth in garments they purchased from HK. Mr Regan added that it had become clear to hir. that the area in which British exports could be increased was the rapidly expanding quality sector of the HK fabric market. Mr Tang agreed that the industry's up- market move was gathering momentum; from that point of view the mission was visiting HK at the right time. But he added that it was not only in the high-quality end of the market that UK exports could be increased: for some commodity fabrics, too, - eg woven polyester the UK was highly competitive. Mr Newbigging added that a number of companies had their headquarters in HK but the manufacturing facilities elsewhere in SE Asia and further afield; since purchasing decisions were taken in HK the potential "HK market" was even greater than suggested by the trade figures.
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