TNAG-1155-FCO40-1435-Visits-by-Members-of-Parliament-(MPs)-to-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 104

R D Clift Esq

RESTRICTED

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Mr. McQuant

British Trade Commission in Hong Kong

9th Floor Bank of America Tower 12 Harcourt Road Hong Kong

Mail Address GPO Box No 528 Hong Kong

Telex HX 73031

Cable Address Uktrade Hong Kong Telephone 5-230176

Hong Kong & General Department

FCO

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Mr. Burk Pl consider in

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Our reference ECO 35397

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12 X 8/22

Date 29 November 1982

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VISIT TO HONG KONG OF THE SELECT COMMITEE ON INDUSTRY AND TRADE

The Committee visited Hong Kong from Saturday 13 November to the afternoon of Tuesday 16 November. Their programme is attached. In practice they had only one and a half working days and we gave them a busy and somewhat breathless time.

2. We organised the programme but involved the Hong Kong Government at an early stage. The Committee's visiting time was divided between Hong Kong Government affairs (visit to the New Territories and the Taipo Industrial Estate) and visible British exports like the MTR, KCR and fire fighting equipment. In our BTC briefing we were able to describe the Government export effort here and with Bill Dorward, Secretary for Trade & Industry, bilateral issues like the MFA absorbed most of the time. Pauline and I and members of BTC also gave a dinner for the Select Committee to meet a cross-section of Hong Kong interests and personalities as well as British businessmen. The MPs were on sparkling form

and it turned into a lively and entertaining evening.

3.

During the visit three broad themes emerged: -

a.

The improvement of British export performance in Hong Kong. There was regret that Britain had only 4.5% of the import market and some, like Tom McNally, suggested that we should adopt a more French approach to "our own territory" and force them to buy more from Britain. This was not however the majority view and the Committee was more concerned to know what could be done to make British companies more aware

of the market and more competent in it. We explained the work of the BTC and emphasised the very stout performance by British

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