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MDLIAN 9379
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FM SINGAPORE
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TELNO 248
OF 110700Z NOVEMBER 93
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG, PEKINGTM
1~ NOV 1993
CHINESE SANCTIONS AGAINST BRITISH FIRMS
н квасо Ms Bord
Pre Concert a righ
p
with DTI & PSD.
1. THE LOCAL MEDIA HAVE REPLAYED IN AGENCY REPORTS THE STORY IN THE OBSERVER OF 7 OCTOBER THAT QUOTE CHINA IS TARGETING BRITISH FIRMS FOR HONG KONG SANCTIONS UNQUOTE. THIS HAS PROMPTED SOME LOW LEVEL CONCERN AMONG THE BRITISH BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND FROM POSSIBLE SINGAPOREAN PARTNERS INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH BRITISH COMPANIES INTO CHINA.
2.
WE HAVE TAKEN THE LINE THAT THE STORY WAS PURELY SPECULATIVE AND THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER OF HONG KONG AFFAIRS CAUSING ANY PROBLEMS WITH BRITISH COMPANIES PURSUING PROJECT WORK, TRADING OR INVESTMENT IN CHINA.
3. AS THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF WORKING WITH SINGAPORE INTO CHINA IS ONE OF THE FOCUSES OF THE TRADE MISSION WHICH THE MINISTER FOR TRADE, MR NEEDHAM, WILL BE BRINGING TO SINGAPORE ON 30 NOVEMBER AND 1 DECEMBER, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE GUIDANCE, NOT LEAST ON A LINE TO TAKE, PARTICULARLY IF DIFFERENT FROM THAT OUTLINED IN THE PREVIOUS PARAGRAPH.
DUGGAN
YYYY
MAIN
71
.HK COMMERCIAL GENERAL HKD
ECONOMIC ADVISERS
PUSD
ERD
FED
4322
DISTRIBUTION
85
PLANNERS
RAD
PS
PS/MR GOODLAD
PS/PUS
MR CROWE
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