TNAG-1449-FCO40-1953-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 351

UMELCO

DRAFT SPEECH BY HON LYDIA DUNN, CBE, LLD, JP

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

-

22.1.86

Hong Kong Trade Development Council (Amendment) Bill 1985

Sir,

I warmly support this Bill.

Since 1979, Hong Kong's bilateral trade with China has grown from HK$17 billion to HK$95 billion in 1984 and HK$98 billion in the first 10 months of last year. China now ranks as Hong Kong's largest trading partner bigger, even, than the United States. As a market for our domestic exports, China has risen from 37th place in 1978 to 2nd place in 1984.

V

In assisting the Hong Kong trading community to realise the potential that this important market offers, the TDC must have access to authoritative information and expertise that is available on the practicalities of doing business with China.

The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce has this information and expertise, and the provision in this Bill that it should be represented on the Council is very timely indeed.

The well-established contacts and business relations which the Chinese General Chamber's members maintain with China and their intimate knowledge of trading channels in that market will be invaluable in the TDC's work.

UMELCO