XN000022-1987-09-20 — Page 4

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1987

SPOT

HOWEVER, IT IS NOT A LONE BATTLE FOR HER. BACK IN HONG KONG, THE ONE STOP UNIT OF THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT PROVIDES ON THE ADVICE TO HELP OVERSEAS INVESTORS UTILISE FULLY THEIR TIME ONCE THEY GET HERE. SITE SELECTION TEAMS ALSO HELP IN FINDING POSSIBLE MANUFACTURING BASES.

IN HER LINE OF WORK, MRS CONLEY HAS ALSO HELPED SOME U.9. COMPANIES SET UP SALES, MARKETING AND PROCUREMENT OFFICES IN HONG KONG. THIS USUALLY HAPPENED WHEN IT WAS CLEAR THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF THE FIRM'S SETTING UP A MANUFACTURING BASE HERE.

BY

"THIS 'WALK BEFORE YOU RUN' APPROACH IS CONSIDERED WORTHWHILE MANY COMPANIES, THEY SET UP PURCHASING OFFICES, FAMILIARISE THEMSELVES WITH HONG KONG AND THEN GO INTO SUB-CONTRACTING, JOINT VENTURES AND MANUFACTURING, SAID MRS CONLEY, NOTING THAT THIS HAPPENS VERY OFTEN IN THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY.

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MRS CONLEY SAID THAT THE INWARD INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMME AIMS TO ATTRACT NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO UPGRADE HONG KONG'S CAPABILITIES AND INDUSTRIES.

SAN FRANCISCO WAS CHOSEN FOR THE FIRST OVERSEAS OFFICE IN THE STATES BECAUSE OF ITS PROXIMITY TO SILICON VALLEY.

AT FIRST, MRS CONLEY FOUND IT DIFFICULT ΤΟ TACKLE THE U.S. MARKET BECAUSE OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION BUT THE SITUATION WAS IMPROVED WITH THE OPENING OF THE NEW YORK INDUSTRIAL OFFICE. THE RE-LOCATION OF THE SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE ΤΟ LARGER PREMISES WITH BETTER FACILITIES IN THE SAME BUILDING AS THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OFFICE, IN JULY LAST YEAR, HAS ALSO HELPED.

MRS CONLEY NOTED THAT COMPETITION FOR INWARD INVESTMENT IS VERY STIFF, BOTH FROM OTHER SOUTH EAST ASIAN COUNTRIES AND EVEN FROM OTHER STATES OF THE USA.

HONG KONG HAS ITS OWN STRONG SELLING POINTS AND BEING AT CHINA'S DOOR HAS MADE IT EVEN MORE ATTRACTIVE.

COMPANIES,

"THE CHINA MARKET IS A LONG TERM OBJECTIVE FOR MANY AND HONG KONG ALLOWS MANUFACTURERS TO BALANCE THEIR LONG AND SHORT TERM NEEDS,' SHE SAID.

MRS CONLEY DOES NOT FIND 1997 A STUMBLING BLOCK IN HER INWARD INVESTMENT PROMOTION WORK.

MOST COMPANIES FELT LESS NERVOUS ABOUT IT AFTER THE SIGNING Of THE AGREEMENT, SHE SAID. THEY HAVE SEEN CHINA INVESTING IN HONG KONG AND VICE VERSA, AND HAVE WITNESSED MANUFACTURING ACTIVITIES.

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/THE INVESTMENT