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CONFIDENTIAL
Notes on a visit to Shenzhen by the Director of Trade, Industry & Customs
4 June 1981
The Director of Trade, Industry & Customs paid a one-day visit to
Shenzhen on 4 June to acquaint himself with recent developments in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) since his last visit almost a year ago. He was accompanied by Assistant Political Adviser 2 and an interpreter, Mr. Fan Meng-huan.
2.
Crossing the border at Lo Wu at 09.50 a.m. DTIC was welcomed by
Mr. Liu Jie, Deputy Director Foreign Affairs Office, Shenzhen, and by
Mr. Jiang Zhenkui, Director of Jiulong Customs Service. The latter explained' that he would rejoin the party at lunch (see separate record), whilst Mr. Liu
accompanied the visitors to factories and housing developments around Shenzhen.
Goodyear Limited/Shenzhen Printing Works
3.
The first visit was to a 40,000 sq. ft. site developed by Goodyear Investment Company Limited of Hong Kong (Hong Kong press reports have put Goodyear's investment at more than US$6 million). The factory was engaged in printing (guidebooks and packaging) under a compensation trade arrangement with
the Shenzhen authorities. A sample product offered was a Hong Kong trade guide
with an introduction in Japanese produced for distribution by the Hong Kong
Tourist Association. The factory and office buildings were spacious, light and
seemingly well appointed but although construction began in 1979, completion
was not scheduled for a further two months or so. Nevertheless, construction
was proceeding with apparently high quality accommodation on site for workers
in the factory. Two 6-storey blocks were being built for male and female
workers, together with a separate block for visiting guests. On site and
locally accommodated workers would eventually total 200.
4.
standard.
The project seemed generally well planned and built to a high
Machinery (for printing, cutting and packaging) had been imported
from Japan and West Germany. Offices were allocated both to a local Chinese
manager and a factory manager from Goodyears (Mr. Lam Sing of Goodyear Printing
Products (China) Limited). Both managers estimated that Goodyear's investment
should be retrieved in three to five years. However at the time of this visit
the factory was certainly not operating to full capacity. Areas of extensive
/factory
CONFIDENTIAL