TNAG-1055-FCO40-1305-Trade-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-UK-1981 — Page 15

RESTRICTED

Record of Mooting with the BREMA/RIC Delegation

at the Departmental Conference Room on 1 October 1981 at 11.00 a.m.

7 OCT:1981 M

7.x

Presents Mr. D.B. Hewitt

Mr. M.J. Foster

Mr. J.L. Dickman

Mr. R. Roberts

Mr. O.P. Sutton

1

Mr. D.M. Maroh, OBE

(Thorn/EMI) (Philips/Pye)

(Fidelity Radio)

(Roberts Radio)

(BREMA)

(BTC)

The Hon. W. Dorward, OBE, JP

Mr. A.L. Purves, JP

Mr. J.K.H. Yue, MBE, JP

Mr. M.W.C. Wu

Mr. P.W.K. Chan

After the usual opening courtesies, Mr. Hewitt explained that BREMA had for a number of years negotiated OMAS on a range of consumer electronic products with Japan, S. Korea, Taiwan and Singapore. They had just completed talks in Taiwan and would be holding similar talks with Singapore after Hong Kong. They would also be having meetings with delegations from Japan and S. Korea in London in about six weeks' time. The purpose of the meeting was to seek the Department's advice and assistance on whether exploratory talks with the local electronics industry would be meaningful.

2.

Mr. Dorward explained the free trade policies of Hong Kong and the importance of the entrepôt trade to Hong Kong. He pointed out that the local electronics industry was not well- organised and that there was no representative association of the local industry. The talks which the BREMA/RIC delegation would be having with the Hong Kong Electronics Association, which covered only 90 of the 1,100 factories, would not therefore be meaningful.

3.

Mr. Dorward then explained the structure of the local electronics industry and stressed the potential of Hong Kong both as a market and as a target for industrial investments for consumer electronic products. Mr. Hewitt said that the UK industry was not unaware of Hong Kong's potentials. Most of the multi- nationals already had a presence in Hong Kong. As regards the others, his own company, Thorn, appeared to be the only one which had a presence here. He undertook to pass the message back to the members of BREMA and RIC. Copies of the latest edition of Industrial Investment Hong Kong were given to members of the delegation. Mr. Purves said that he would ask Mr. C.G. Bernard, who was on duty in Europe, to call in at the Electronic Component Industries' Federation in London for further discussions.

14.

VÜCUDDICTED

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