IN CONFIDENCE
ARKET ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 1986
BRANCH SUMMARY FOR
COUNTRIES COVERED:
China Hong Kong Macao
British Overseas Trade Board
BITB
SECTION I: Main characteristics of the area as they affect UK export
potential
the
China is vast, poor but changing rapidly. Shortage of foreign exchange limits opportunities in the short and medium term. Priority sectors are energy, transport, communications. UK China political relations excellent.
Hong Kong by contract is tiny but prosperous. UK dependent territory. Britain's second largest export market in Far East. Maintenance of confidence is important to long term economic prospects. Will become a special administrative region of China, but preserving high level of autonomy, in 1997.
Macao is an extremely small UK export market.
SECTION II: Current UK export promotion strategy for this area
(a) Short term
Follow up Royal visit to China and Hong Kong (including "Seaday" seminar in Shanghai) with further Ministerial trade promotion visits.
Implement projects under £300 million soft loan facility for China.
Continued high level of BOTB programme expenditure notably on trade fairs.
fir
Improve value for money/BOTB expenditure through greater selectivity e.g. emphasis on "vertical" rather than horizontal missions.
The aim is to maintain and if possible increase UK market share in China and Hong Kong but since both markets are highly competitive this will not be easy.
Contd.