students, insurance companies or consultants (there are more of both from Britain than from any other country), banking or other financial services, cargo revenue or hotel management.
12
Hence it is very probable that the total annual invisible earnings by UK companies in Hong Kong exceeds £1,000 million.
Conclusion
13 There is no doubt that British commercial involvement in Hong Kong is extensive, complicated and it touches almost every sector of the economy. It is also clear from this review that British investment and management involvement remains the major overseas influence in Hong Kong business.
14 If Britain's 'invisible' earnings in Hong Kong are added to the value of British merchandise exports to Hong Kong (£1,030m in 1988) and compared with the value of Hong Kong exports to Britain (£1,556m in 1988) and the much smaller 'invisible' earnings by Hong Kong in Britain (eg earnings on direct investment in 1987 were £15 million), it is probable that the amount of business between Hong Kong and Britain is roughly in balance and worth in excess of £4,000m a year.
15 No attempt has been made in this review to assess the net value of Hong Kong investments in Britain. However, known purchases from Hong Kong of equity in British companies and of property in the last few years have amounted to over £1,000m. addition, Hong Kong companies have established at least six manufacturing units in Britain.
In
British Trade Commission
Hong Kong
June 1989