CONFIDENTIAL
Essential Facts
Commercial Relations Generally
1. Hong Kong as a trading partner is now second only to Japan
in Asia, and our 19th in the world. In spite of restrictions on
Hong Kong's textile exports, balance of visible trade has for many
years been in Hong Kong's favour. UK share of Hong Kong's import
market improved gradually from 1976-1979, but some ground was lost
in 1980. Share in 1980 was 4.9%, or about £560 million.
for 1981 are so far encouraging.
Figures
2.
Hong Kong Government has for a long time encouraged the inflow
of foreign investment into the manufacturing sector, chiefly because
it brings with it much needed skills, technology and overseas
market networks. UK investment has in recent years fallen behind
the United States and Japan, a factor which may have contributed
to our relatively poor export performance.
3. There have been and continue to be numerous officially supported
missions and visits by British businessmen. BOTB's Hong Kong Trade
Advisory Group now organising a luxury and consumer goods promotion
mission for 1982.
4. Department of Trade are advised by Hong Kong Trade Advisory
Group, whose role is to publicise Hong Kong as an important export
market for the UK. It runs programmes of meetings and seminars
held in association with trade associations in interested fields
and is in close contact with Mr March, Senior British Trade
Commissioner in Hong Kong.