Miss M Lackey
17 AUGUST 1972
Commercial Relations & Exports Dept Department of Trade & Industry
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Manifested at some unspecified future date in some unspecified way. It occurs to me, for example, that some of the firms who will be bringing machinery out to the BIE might feel that it would be worth their while to make a gift of this to the Polytechnic rather than go to the expense of carrying it back. In addition, there may be some firms with agents already here, who either have machinery on the spot or could easily get it here to make a gift of it. I would stress however, that it should not be outdated machinery and prefer- ably not secondhand (although this is a less important point); Hong Kong want their technicians to be trained on today's machinery, even if not tomorrow's, and certainly not yesterday's. I realise that before Industry or HG (or both) can make any specific offers they will need to have the requirement more specificaly identified both in terms of the type of equipment (with reference to the use to be made of it) and of time scale. The best
The best perhaps the only way to do this would be to have a meeting between the authorities (and expert advisers) on the Hong Kong side and representatives of inter- ested, or potentially interested firms, on the other.
on the other. Since HMG might also need to be involved in whatever scheme emerges and since in any case some co-ordination will be required in formulating the requirement and the offers and subsequently in keeping the ball rolling, it would probably be necessary and advisable that we (the Trade Commission) should convene, and chair, this meeting. Perhaps the ideal time for it would be during the BIE when many of the major manufacturers will have representatives here; certainly it would provide the right sort of scenario for it.
11. But there would be no point in us trying to take this further
(whether in the sort of discussions I have suggested or otherwise) unless there is at least agreement in principle that HMG or Industry (or both) might seriously consider giving some assistance.
If we were to excite hopes and then give nothingiit would be worse than doing nothing at all. I should therefore be grateful for anything than can be done in London to stimulate real interest among the major manufacturers of industrial machinery and equipment, and for your reaction to the proposition in the light of the response from Industry (or of HMG's own reactions to provide equipment of a gift basis).
(2. Thirdly, it has been suggested to me that in addition to whatever
scholarships we may be offering to Hong Kong for engineering students to go to UK (and I think we could profitably give more publicity to these and offer more of them) we should also offer some technicians to work in Hong Kong with Hong Kong Industries teaching them the new manufacturing techniques, while at the same time supervising super- vising their introduction. They know that we have developed such
techniques and/
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.