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BITISH FIRMS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED IN THEIR PURSUIT OF THESE BY RECENT SUCCESSES SUCH AS JOHN BROWN WINNING A POUNDS STERLING 45 MILLION POWER STATION CONTRACT LAST MONTH, HAWKER SIDDELEY WINNING A POUNDS STERLING 25 MILLION SWITCHGEAR CONTRACT, LEYLAND BUS TAKING ORDERS TO THE VALUE OF ABOUT POUNDS STERLING 10 MILLION, AND BABCOCK WINNING A POUNDS STERLING 70 MILLION GAS PLANT ORDER.
12. TO CONTINUE TO GET OUR SHARE OF SUCH PROJECTS BUSINESS IT WILL BE IMPORTANT THAT ECGD SUPPORT CONTINUES TO BE AVAILABLE ON A FULLY COMPETITIVE BASIS.
13.
IMMIGRATION
THE BRAIN DRAIN CONTINUES TO BEAR HEAVILY ON THE BUSINESS SCENE. THE BRITISH PASSPORT PACKAGE, DUE TO BE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK, SHOULD HELP STEM THE FLOW OF SKILLED AND PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE AND MANAGERIAL STAFF, BUT THE DECISIONS OF MANY INDIVIDUALS ON WHETHER OR NOT TO EMIGRATE WILL ULTIMATELY LARGELY DEPEND UPON EVENTS IN CHINA.
14. CONCLUSION
HONG KONG CONTINUES TO PROSPER BUT NOT WITHOUT A DEGREE OF NERVOUSNESS. MOST BUSINESSMEN THINK THAT THE CRUNCH YEARS HAVE NOT YET ARRIVED. THEY EXPECT TO TURN THEIR MONEY OVER MANY TIMES BEFORE 1997. IT MAY BE ANOTHER TWO OR THREE YEARS BEFORE MOST OF THEM FEEL THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS THE IMPACT OF WHICH WILL TAKE THEM BEYOND 1997 AND TO THE END OF THE CENTURY. MUCH WILL DEPEND ON CHINA'S ACTIONS, ATTITUDES AND WORDS ON HOW THOSE DECISIONS WILL COME OUT. FOR THE MOMENT HOWEVER HONG KONG REMAINS AN IMPORTANT ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL CENTRE BY ANY STANDARDS, AND ONE WHERE OUR OWN STAKE IS LARGE AND OUR CURRENT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES ARE PROBABLY AS GREAT AS THOSE ANYWHERE.
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