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125.221
MDLIAN 9179
4. THE PRESSURE IS MORE FROM BRITISH COMPANIES WHO ARE INCREASINGLY AGITATED AT WHAT THEY SEE AS OUR LETTING OPPORTUNITIES SLIP AWAY BECAUSE OF LACK OF POLITICAL SUPPORT. I FEAR THAT IN A WAY BARONESS THATCHER'S VISIT IN AUGUST GAVE THEM HOPE THAT MORE WAS TO FOLLOW. I HAVE CONSISTENTLY DISABUSED THEM OF THIS USING THE HONG KONG ARGUMENT AND THE POTENTIAL OF CHINA ITSELF AS THE REASONS WHY WE MUST PROCEED WITH CAUTION. I HAVE TOLD THEM THAT THE PROSPECTS FOR UK FIRMS WINNING MAJOR CONTRACTS HERE ARE, THEREFORE, CORRESPONDINGLY SLIM. THIS WAS VERY MUCH THE THEME OF MY 'FIRST IMPRESSIONS' ARTICLE IN THE APAG AUTUMN BULLETIN. IT IS, OF COURSE, VERY BITTER NEWS FOR BRITISH COMPANIES, SOME OF THEM NOW IN QUITE DESPERATE STRAITS, WHEN THEY COME HERE LOOKING FOR THE TAIWANESE POT OF GOLD. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE FOR COMPANIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. IS TRUE ALSO FOR COMPANIES SUCH AS NUCLEAR ELECTRIC WHO HAVE POTENTIAL BUSINESS HERE OF POUNDS 600 MILLION TO HELP BUILD TAIWAN'S FOURTH NUCLEAR POWER STATION CON WHICH I AM REPORTING SEPARATELY), BUT WHICH THEY SAY THEY WILL ONLY GET THROUGH POLITICAL SUPPORT AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. I HAVE LEFT THEM DOUBT AS TO THE DIFFICULTIES WHICH THEY FACE.
IN NO
IT
5. AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, IT IS, I HOPE, NOT UNREASONABLE FOR ME TO PLEAD THE CASE FOR INCREASING OUR EXPOSURE WHEN IT SEEMS AS SEEN FROM MY OWN PAROCHIAL VANTAGE POINT, A FAIRLY RISK-FREE VENTURE, ESPECIALLY WHEN AS ONE UK BUSINESSMAN PUT IT TO ME, CHOICE IS BETWEEN SAVING CHINESE FACE AND SAVING BRITISH JOBS.
6.
THE
INCIDENTALLY, I WAS GRATEFUL TO PEKING FOR DRAWING ATTENTION IN THEIR FIRST TUR, TO MY COMMUNICATIONS PREDICAMENT. I RAISED THIS WITH ISD (0) DURING MY DUTY VISIT IN OCTOBER. HOPEFULLY SOME IMPROVEMENT MAY NOT BE TOO FAR AWAY.
MORRICE
No,
but
Forlorn, i fear.
YYYY
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