6. FIRST THE GENERAL WAY IN WHICH THEY REGARD HONG KONG. YOU
KNOW THE LONG-STANDING CHINESE POSITION ON HONG KONG, THAT IT IS
PART OF CHINA AND A PROBLEM THAT WILL BE SOLVED WHEN THE TIME IS
PE. BUT THE POINT THAT WAS REPEATEDLY STRESSED TO US AT ALL
LEVELS WAS THE IMPORTANCE WHICH THE CHINESE LEADERS ATTACI TO
THE VALUE OF HONG KONG, TO THE CONTRIBUTION THAT IT COULD MAKE TO THE MODERNISATION PROGRAMMES, TO THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING
INVESTMENT AND CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG, AND OF INCREASED HONG KONG
INVESTMENT IN CHINA, INDEED VICE PREMIER DENG XIAOPING FORMALLY
REQUESTED ME TO ASK INVESTORS IN HONG KONG TO PUT THEIR HEARTS AT EASE'': HE ALSO ASKED FOR ENCOURAGEMENT OF INVESTMENT IN
GUANGZHOU PROVINCE AND THE REST OF CHINA, YOU WILL HAVE SEEN FROM
PRESS REPORTS THAT IN DINNER SPEECHES LI QIANG STRESSED THE SAME
POINTS ABOUT THE VALUE OF BROADER PROSPECTS IN ECONOMIC
COOPERATION BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE REST OF CHINA, AND OF HONG
KONG INVESTMENT IN CHINA. AT ALL LEVELS THEY CONSTANTLY REITERATED
THE SAME THEME: NAMELY THE IMPORTANCE TO THEM OF THE ROLE WHICH
HONG KONG IS PLAYING AND WILL PLAY AS A RESULT OF THE
HIGH LEVEL OF ITS INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT. THIS WAS A FRANK STATEMENT OF CHINA'S NEEDS, BUT ONE CAN ALSO READ
INTO IT A MOST ENCOURAGING MESSAGE.
7. NOW FOR SOME OF THE DETAIL. FIRST OF ALL TOURISM. THEY SEE
CONSIDERABLE SCOPE FOR COOPERATION IN OUR RESPECTIVE TOURIST
INDUSTRIES. THEY APPEAR TO RESPECT OUR OWN INDUSTRY AND BELIVE
THEY CAN LEARN FROM IT IN THE RAPID EXPANSION OF THEIRS. THEY
WOULD WELCOME COOPERATION IN THE FINANCING, CONSTRUCTION,
MANAGEMENT AND STAFF TRAINING OF SOME OF THEIR NEW HOTELS: AND
ALSO IN THE PLANNING OF CHINA TOURS BEGINNING AND ENDING IN
HONG KONG, THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOTELS APPARENTLY INVOLVES BOTH
THE CENTRAL TRAVEL AND TOURIST AUTHORITY IN PEKING AND LOCAL
PLANNING AUTHORITIES. RECONCILING THE RESPECTIVE IDEAS TAKES TIME,
AND THEY ASKED ME TO ASK OUR SYNDICATES ENGAGED IN NEGOTIATING
HOTEL CONTRACTS TO BE PATIENT,
8. A WORD ABOUT COMMUNICATIONS, PONG KONG IS THE BEST DEEP-WATER
PORT AVAILABLE TO CUANGDONG, AND ALSO THE TERMINUS OF THE SOUTH
CHINA RAILWAY SYSTEM. IT ALSO IS A CENTRE OF WORLD-WIDE SEA AND
AIR TRANSPORT, OBVIOUSLY THESE ASPECTS ARE IMPORTANT TO CHINA.
THE THROUGH-TRAIN IS IMPORTANT IN ITSELF AND ALSO AS A BEGINNING OF AN IMPROVED TRAIN SERVICE IN GENERAL. THEY CLEARLY WISHED
TO PROCEED FAIRLY SOON TO THROUGH--FREIGHT SERVICES AND
THIS IS ALREADY BEING EXAMINED.
ja.
WE SAW