MONDAY, JUNE 3, 1985
NOTING THAT THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN, MORE THAN ANY OTHER INDUSTRIALISED NATIONS, HAD RECOGNISED THE INDUSTRIAL OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY THE PACIFIC REGION, THE DIRECTOR SAID THAT WESTERN EUROPE INCLUDING THE UNITED KINGDOM SADLY PLAYED A VERY SMALL PART IN THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN THE REGION.
+MOST SIGNIFICANTLY, CHINA WITH A QUARTER OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION AND THE BIGGEST AND POTENTIALLY THE MOST POWERFUL ECONOMY WITHIN THE REGION HAS BEGUN THE PROCESS OF RETURNING TO THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ARENA. HONG KONG, CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE REGION AND ON THE DOORSTEP OF CHINA, IS WELL PLACED TO PLAY A UNIQUE ROLE IN CHINA'S MODERNISATION.+
+AS CHINA'S MODERNISATION PROGRAMME PROGRESSES, THERE WILL BE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE COMPANIES IN HONG KONG WITH THE ABILITY TO OFFER ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AND SERVICES.
+MANY OVERSEAS COMPANIES HAVE ALREADY SEIZED SUCH OPPORTUNITIES AND THERE IS NO REASON WHY BRITISH COMPANIES, GIVEN THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BRITAIN AND HONG KONG, SHOULD NOT USE HONG KONG MORE THAN HITHERTO AS THEIR BASE FOR PARTICIPATION IN CHINA'S DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES,+ HE STRESSED.
MR YAXLEY SAID THAT THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG, WH ICH PROVIDED FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE ESSENTIALS FOR HONG KONG'S INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS AFTER JULY 1, 1997, HAD CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT OF CONFIDENCE AND OPTIMISM IN HONG KONG.
+PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN PLANT, MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT IS ON THE RISE THUS PERMITTING PRODUCTION CAPACITY AND CAPABILITIES TO BE EXPANDED AND UPDATED TO MEET THE EVER-INCREASING DEMAND FOR OUR PRODUCTS.
+ INTEREST IN HONG KONG BY OVERSEAS INVESTORS IN MANUFACTURING REMAINED HIGH, + MR YAXLEY SAID.
+BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1983 AND THE END OF APRIL THIS YEAR, 54 NEW COMPANIES MANY FROM NORTH AMERICA AND THE GREATER NUMBER IN ELECTRONICS, BEGAN MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS IN HONG KONG.
+A FURTHER 17 HAVE TAKEN A DECISION TO SET UP BUT HAD NOT YET ACTUALLY BEGUN PRODUCTION AND AN ADDITIONAL 26 HAVE INDICATED TO US THAT THEY ARE LIKELY TO DECIDE TO COME TO HONG KONG.
+THE NUMBER OF ENQUIRIES WE HAVE RECEIVED HAS NOTICEABLY
INCREASED IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS.
+THEREFORE HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN IN THE FUTURE
A PLACE OF GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW ENTERPRISE AND INITIATIVES,+ MR YAXLEY SAID.
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