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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1988
THEY WERE THE PRESIDENT OF THE ITALY-HONG KONG ASSOCIATION, MR MARIO TSCHANG; THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SPAIN-HONG KONG ASSOCIATION, CARLOS FITZ JAMES STUART MARTINEZ DE IRUJO, THE DUKE OF HUESCAR; THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NETHERLANDS-HONG KONG SOCIETY, MR CEES BLANKESTIJN; AND THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE AUSTRIA-HONG KONG ASSOCIATION, MR HANNES ROTTER.
TO THE FRENCH THE BRITISH
THE GOVERNOR GAVE A SERIES OF PRESS INTERVIEWS MEDIA BEFORE ATTENDING A PRIVATE DINNER HOSTED BY AMBASSADOR TO FRANCE, SIR EWAN FERGUSON. HE WILL SPEND A FURTHER DAY IN PARIS TOMORROW.
GOVERNOR CALLS FOR MORE INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT FROM FRANCE
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, TODAY (THURSDAY) CALLED FOR GREATER INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG'S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY BY FRENCH COMPANIES.
SPEAKING TO FRANCE'S LEADING BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, THE CONSEIL NATIONAL DU PATRONAT FRANCAIS, IN PARIS, SIR DAVID POINTED OUT THAT OUT OF THE 141 EUROPEAN MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS IN HONG KONG AT PRESENT, ONLY BIGHT WERE FRENCH.
НЕ EMPHASISED THAT HONG KONG WAS NOT JUST A PLACE FOR MULTI-NATIONALS.
"MANY OF OUR FOREIGN INVESTORS ARE MEDIUM-SIZED MANUFACTURING FIRMS. THERE IS ROOM FOR MORE FRENCH FIRMS AMONG THEM, HE SAID.
T
FRENCH INVESTMENT IN MANUFACTURING WAS ONLY ABOUT FIVE PER CENT OF THE EUROPEAN TOTAL, WHICH ITSELF WAS DWARFED BY THE AMERICAN AND JAPANESE PRESENCE.
THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY SPECIAL INCENTIVES TO ENCOURAGE FOREIGN INVESTMENT.
"WE BELIEVE THAT THE ONLY GOOD INVESTMENT IS ONE THAT IS MADE FOR SOLID BUSINESS REASONS ALONE.
LITTLE
"IT WOULD INDEED BE DIFFICULT FOR US TO OFFER TAX INCENTIVES OUR TAXES, BOTH CORPORATE AND PERSONAL, ARE SO LOW WE HAVE SCOPE FOR MAKING SPECIAL REDUCTIONS, HE SAID.
HOWEVER, SIR
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