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Governor's spokesman on FCO statement
In response to media inquiries on the statement issued today (Friday) by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the Governor's spokesman, Kerry McGlynn, said:
"Everybody in Hong Kong knows the Governor's views on this issue. The FCO statement speaks for itself. The British Government is obviously as concerned as the Hong Kong community about perceived threats to Hong Kong's autonomy after 1997."
Asked if the Governor knew in advance of the FCO action, Mr McGlynn said: "Yes. Ministers always consult the Governor on matters relating to Hong Kong, especially when threats are made to Hong Kong's promised autonomy."
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Hong Kong - Europe's business base in East Asia
The Chief Secretary, Mrs Anson Chan, continuing her official visit to Paris, today (Friday) impressed on French business leaders the advantages of establishing and maintaining a presence in Hong Kong.
"Hong Kong is Europe's business base in East Asia. It is the place that European companies choose, above all other places in the region, to set up their regional headquarters," she said.
Mrs Chan was delivering a keynote speech at a luncheon hosted by the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. About 200 business people packed the lunch venue, despite many encountering transport difficulties stemming from the industrial dispute affecting the city.
She said that in addition to the obvious advantages of Hong Kong as a business centre - from its position as an aviation, shipping, communications and information hub - the territory had become a major market in its own right.