XN000022-1986-01-22 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1986

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SHE ADDED THAT THE TDC HAD BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS THE GROWING THREAT OF PROTECTIONISM IN THE UNITED STATES, AND WAS ALREADY FINANCING THREE FIRMS OF LOBBYISTS TO WORK FOR HONG KONG'S INTERESTS IN WASHINGTON.

MISS DUNN REPORTED THAT WORK ON THE HONG KONG CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE WAS PROCEEDING ON SCHEDULE AND COMPLETION WAS EXPECTED IN 1988.

SHE SAID THE DECISION TO BUILD THE CENTRE WAS A MAJOR MILESTONE EVENT IN HONG KONG'S DEVELOPMENT AS AN INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE.

+THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAS FELT THE NEED FOR SUCH A FACILITY FOR MANY YEARS, BUT IT WAS ONLY AFTER GOVERNMENT PASSED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROJECT TO THE TDC IN 1984 - TOGETHER WITH A GENEROUS LAND GRANT - THAT THE IDEA HAS BECOME A REALITY, SHE SAID.

REFERRING TO THE TRADE PROMOTIONS PROGRAMME MOUNTED BY THE TDC DURING THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW, MISS DUNN SAID EMPHASIS WAS GIVEN TO CAPITALISING ON THE IMPROVED DEMAND IN HONG KONG'S MAJOR MARKETS, PARTICULARLY THE UNITED STATES.

+ IN PARALLEL WITH THIS, THE TDC CONTINUED TO PURSUE ITS ON-GOING CAMPAIGN IN THE JAPANESE MARKET AND TO BUILD UP ITS ROLE AS A CATALYST FOR HONG KONG'S RAPIDLY EXPANDING BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA,+ SHE SAID.

REPORTING ON TDC'S OVERSEAS ACTIVITIES, MISS DUNN SAID IN ADDITION TO DAY-TO-DAY CONTACTS WITH BUYERS AND SELLERS BY ITS NETWORK OF 20 OVERSEAS OFFICES, OVER 60 OVERSEAS TRADE PROMOTIONS WERE ORGANISED.

+SOME 1 300 HONG KONG COMPANIES PARTICIPATED IN THESE EVENTS, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF BUSINESS NEGOTIATED AND CONCLUDED ON THE SPOT DURING THESE PROMOTIONS REACHED ALMOST $1.5 BILLION.

+ IN ADDITION, NEARLY 25 000 TRADE ENQUIRIES WERE PROCESSED AS A RESULT OF THESE ACTIVITIES OVERSEAS,+ SHE SAID.

ON TDC'S LOCAL ACTIVITIES, MISS DUNN SAID IN ADDITION TO HIGH PROFILE EVENTS SUCH AS THE WOMEN'S SPORTSWEAR SHOW, THE COUNCIL HANDLED 190 INWARD MISSIONS FROM 34 COUNTRIES, INCLUDING 49 FROM CHINA.

+OUR TRADE ENQUIRY SERVICE PROCESSED OVER 130 000 INDIVIDUAL ENQUIRIES; AND AN EXTENSIVE PROGRAMME OF EXPORT SEMINARS, INCLUDING MAJOR SEMINARS ON WEST GERMAN, CANADIAN AND JAPANESE MARKETS WERE CONDUCTED FOR LOCAL MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS, SHE SAID.

+ IN SUPPORT OF OUR VARIOUS PROMOTIONAL EFFORTS, OUR PUBLICITY DEPARTMENT DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 1.6 MILLION COPIES OF ALL TYPES OF PUBLICATIONS ABOUT HONG KONG PRODUCTS TO BUYERS IN 175 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD,+ SHE ADDED.

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