TNAG-1054-FCO40-1304-Trade-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-UK-1981 — Page 163

British Shipbuilders

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Benton House, 136 Sandyford Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1QE. Tel: 0632-26772. Telex: 537801 BSBLOED)

Robert Atkinson Chairman

RA/ds

AKK

121110

9 March 1981

&

AS

DP1013

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY MO. 51

1 MAR 1981

DEM OFFICER

REGISTRY Action Taken

ли 14195

see

The Rt. Hon. the Lord Carrington, KCMG MC.

INDEX

PA

No

M

19

a

Secretary of State for Foreign and

Commonwealth Affairs,

Foreign and Commonwealth Office,

Downing Street,

LONDON SW1A 2AL.

Dear Sevetary of State,

1001

I understand that you will be meeting the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Murray MacLehose, tomorrow during his current visit to the U.K. I thought, there- fore, it might be helpful if I gave you a brief note of our current activities both in Hong Kong and in the People's Republic of China.

Shortly after the formation of British Shipbuilders four years ago, Hong Kong was identified as a growth market for ships. As a result, we established a Branch Office there in 1978, in order to be able to maintain close contacts with the leading Owners in the Colony and also keep an eye on developments in Mainland China.

To date,

The result in terms of business has more than justified this decision. we have obtained orders for twelve ships from Hong Kong owners, totalling 350,000 tonnes deadweight and valued at over £100 million. Six of these ships have been secured as a direct result of the strong presence we put up at the "Expoship" shipbuilding exhibition in Hong Kong last November, when I led a strong team from British Shipbuilders. It is particularly pleasing to note that the Colony's two leading shipowners, Sir Y.K. Pao and C.Y. Tung, have both now placed orders with us. (Sir Y.K. has placed a £20 million order at Austin & Pickersgill in Sunderland; Tung a similar sized order also at Austin and Pickersgill as well as a £30 million order for two ships at Govan in Scotland.) I am also hopeful that the third largest owner, Wah Kwong, controlled by the Chao family, which has, to date, placed virtually all its orders with the Japanese, will soon be persuaded to follow suit. It is worth noting that these three owners now control a fleet larger than that sailing under the U.K. Flag.

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