will be many more examples to mention on future visits.
additinal advantage of
Those Hong Kong companies who have already made their move
to the UK have been attracted by the sound infrastructure,
and the charge in bontan it the 19805. There is skilled workforce, relatively low and falling inflation.
Also by the strategic benefits of establishing a base in the UK from which to operate in the EC. Hope you will encourage business partners here to think UK when investing overseas.
Future Consulate General
My second main point is that British interests in Hong Kong will not finish in 1997. We are already planning for our
long-term future presence here: on a scale that befits
Britain's history, and influence and interests.
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We now have an excellent site for the construction of the
future British Consulate General Colvin House site, above
the impressive Pacific Place development and adjacent to the Hong Kong Park. I am grateful to Swire Properties and the
Hong Kong Government for providing two such attractive backdrops for our own impressive new building.
In line with the continuing importance of Hong Kong to the
United Kingdom, and the size of the task of representing and supporting our interests here, the new Consulate General will be substantial. It will include some 60 UK-based and 200 local, Hong Kong staff making it certainly the largest
British Consulate General in the world and one of the largest of any our posts It will also house a substantial British Council English language teaching operation: another
practical way of keeping up the British link.
The UK's Responsibility to Hong Kong
My third point is that Britain is determined to fulfil its
responsibilities to Hong Kong until 1997. You will recall
that we undertook in the Joint Declaration to administer
JM1ABU/3
SLM
the