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166073
MDLIAN 4155
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FM BTC HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY F C O
TELNO 329
OF 14112OZ NOVEMBER 91
AND TO PRIORITY DTI
INFO ROUTINE PEKING
IBB INWARD INVESTMENT SEMINAR IN HONG KONG:
SUMMARY
1.
HKC31/2 TUP COPY Q DIST?
13 NOVEMBER 1991
WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE THE FIRST EVER SEMINAR IN HONG KONG TO PROMOTE MANUFACTURING INVESTMENT IN THE UK WAS HELD ON 13 NOVEMBER. SENIOR REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALMOST 100 LOCAL COMPANIES ATTENDED, FAR EXCEEDING EARLIER ESTIMATES. GOOD MEDIA COVERAGE.
DETAIL
2. FOLLOWING THE REVISION OF THE GUIDELINES ON INWARD INVESTMENT PROMOTION IN HONG KONG, AND AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE INWARD INVESTMENT BUREAU OF THE DTI (IBB) THE FCO AND HKG, WE STAGED AN INWARD INVESTMENT SEMINAR IN HONG KONG ON 13 NOVEMBER. AN EXTRA LOCALLY ENGAGED MEMBER OF STAFF WAS ENGAGED IN MID- AUGUST TO HELP IDENTIFY THE HONG KONG BASED COMPANIES WHO MIGHT, FOR PURELY COMMERCIAL REASONS, BE CONSIDERING INVESTMENT IN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY. THE SUCCESS OF THE EVENT OWES MUCH TO HER SKILLS AND DEDICATION. THE DATE FOR THE SEMINAR WAS, IN THE EVENT, CHOSEN TO FIT IN WITH THE IBB'S OTHER COMMITMENTS IN THIS AREA. THE SEMINAR WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THIS OFFICE AND THE IBB. I ALSO JUDGED THAT THE EVENT WOULD HAVE MUCH MORE APPEAL IF WE COULD OBTAIN THE SPONSORSHIP AND ASSISTANCE OF THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND OF THE ANGLO-HONG KONG TRUST. BOTH AGREED TO ASSIST, WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS. THE VENUE WAS THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL'S CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE.
3. WE OPENED THE SEMINAR WITH A LUNCHEON AT A NEW AND FASHIONABLE CLUB, HOSTED BY THE ANGLO-HONG KONG TRUST AND AT WHICH SIMON MURRAY, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF HUTCHINSON WAMPOA SPOKE. THE AFTERNOON PROGRAMME INCLUDED MY OPENING ADDRESS AND PRESENTATIONS BY FRANCIS LO DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, PRISTON, DIRECTOR AND HEAD OF IBB, MILLER,
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