13"
"I endorse the Secretary of State's observations on the increasing
role that Hong Kong and Britain, working together, might play in China trade
to their mutual benefit and also to the benefit of China itself. Hong Kong
has indeed the asset of having the great respect of China and its economic ability
and, with Hong Kong's easy and regular access to Guangdong Province, it is
ideally suited for the development of light industries and the building of
industrial infrastructures and estates.
"There are undoubtedly real opportunities for collaboration between
British business interests and Hong Kong and I am pleased to note that Her
Majesty's Government are very anxious that such arrangements should form an
important part of Britain's growing relationship with China. Activities
such as these were what the Trade Development Council has established many
years ago to promote. It was for good reasons that the title 'trade' as
opposed to export' development was chosen, as we were vell aware that two-
way trade was of vital necessity for Hong Kong, and try Council certainly hopes
that British enterprise will recognise the value of Hong Kong now, not only as
a parket in itself, but as a gateway to China and indeed the whole of the Far
East.
"Indeed, my Council has always followed the policy of including
importers in the trade missions we send to Britain and this has helped
lead to a significant improvement in Britain's visible trade with Hong Kong.
Following an increase of 36 per cent in 1978, Hong Kong's imports from
Britain increased by a further 46 per cent in 1979 to represent a value of
€442 million and the first four months of 1980 continued to show very
encouraging growth rates.
But Britain's