CONFIDENTIAL
HKB
CONFIDENTIAL
FM BTC HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 403
OF 1206OOZ
SEPTEMBER
89
ਅਸ
INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG
it
125113
MDHIAN 5174
026 123 TOP COPY
Q DIST ?
HONG KONG
વ
回
YOUR TELNO 218: MR MAUDE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG
I AM GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SEE AND COMMENT ON THE PROGRAMME AND THE EARLIER TELEGRAMS ON THIS VISIT.
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THE RADOFIN INVESTMENT PROPOSED IN HK TELNO 2971 IS SOME 10 YEARS OLD AND IN A FLATTED FACTORY (I.E. ONE FLOOR IN A HIGH RISE BUILDING CONTAINING MANY FACTORIES) RATHER THAN PURPOSE BUILT PREMISES. 51 PER CENT OF THE SHARES ARE UK OWNED. A MORE RECENT UK INVESTMENT OF A SIMILAR NATURE IS POLLY PECKS POUND STR 7 MILLION PURCHASE IN MARCH 1989 OF 21 PER CENT OF SHELL ELECTRIC A LOCAL MANUFACTURER OF ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES FOR POLLY PECK AND RUSSELL HOBBS.
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THERE ARE SEVERAL BETTER POSSIBILITIES OF WHICH I RECOMMEND IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE, (A) COATES BROTHERS PRINTING INK FACTORY IN TAIPO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, HKD14 MILLION INVESTED IN 1987/88. IT IS THE ONLY HK MANUFACTURER OF PRINTING INK AND RESISTS USED IN PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD MANUFACTURE. (B) DE LA RUE SECURITY BANK NOTE PRINTING PLANT, ALSO AT TAI PO AND OPENED IN 1984. SIZE OF INVESTMENT NOT IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE, BUT SIGNIFICANT. THIS IS A SUPERB CUSTOM BUILT FACTORY, EXCELLENT FOR A MINISTRIAL VISIT, BUT WHICH WOULD PROBABLY PRESENT DIFFICULTIES OVER PRESS ACCESS AND WHICH ALMOST CERTAINLY WOULD NOT ALLOW PHOTOGRAPHERS, SINCE SECURITY IS VERY TIGHT. (C) A VISIT TO THE HONG KONG AND CHINA GAS COMPANY'S TAI PO PLANT WHERE EXISTING EQUIPMENT IS UK (BABCOCK) AND FOR PHASE II OF WHICH A POUND STR 69 MILLION CONTRACT HAS BEEN AGREED AND IS ABOUT TO BE SIGNED WITH BABCOCK. THERE IS HOWEVER NO DIRECT UK INVESTMENT IN THIS PROJECT.
ANY OF THESE THREE SHOULD BE FEASIBLE IN THE 2 HOURS ALLOWED IN THE PROGRAMME, THOUGH THE JOURNEY WOULD BEST BE DONE BY HELICOPTER.
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TAIKOO SHING CITY PLAZA (SERIAL 8 IN HONG KONG TELNO 2972) IS A SWIRE DEVELOPMENT WHICH WILL BE THE LOCATION OF MARKS AND
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