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TRADE INVESTMENT Conference ©®
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3.121/3
24 1991
From:
Sir John Coles
W
Date:
20 June 1991
cc:
Mr Burns
FED
Mr Paul, HKD
HONG KONG
1.
Sir John Whitehead told me today that the Japanese Minister of Finance had recently put to him, on a personal basis, the suggestion that we might organise in Hong Kong a meeting of countries who were actual or potential investors in the Territory. The object would be to convey an implied message to China about the depth of international interest in Hong Kong's future. I believe that Sir John Whitehead may have put this idea to you as well.
There would be some
2. It seems to me worth considering. danger of provoking Chinese charges of "internationalisation". On the other hand, the Chinese have a clear economic interest in future investment in Hong Kong and might, if we were careful, even be persuaded to attend.
3.
I should be interested in your views in due course.
JC2ADY
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fohn Coles.
Sir John Coles