TNAG-1482-FCO40-2036-Economic-and-commercial-value-of-Hong-Kong-to-the-UK-1986 — Page 107

CODE 18-77

AWO Ltd. 7/84

B

Mr

Layden, HKD

RESTRICTED

tel sent

GS1ASI Reference......HKK...09.0./.1......

NEDC PROPOSAL TO SET UP A HONG KONG OFFICE

1.

1090/1 (85) (39)

Please refer to my minute to Mr Galsworthy dated 11 Relevant telegrams are at (36) and (37) in

December.

C attached file.

2.

minutes of the meeting with They are generally correct. a recent NEDC advertisement seems uncontroversial (I am want to set up a factory

If you

I have now received the DTI and NEDC on 11 December. I have also received a copy of in a Hong Kong newspaper. It advised that it says: "1. in the North of England and need financial assistance and low interest rates.

you need information on comparative Labour costs. taxation and on factories

then this is

2.

If

a

European conditions, Laws, and 3. If you need information on already operating in the North East good opportunity for overseas business expansion on your part. For further information on NEDC contact Bill Welton etc.) In other words NEDC's pitch is not aimed at drawing off nervous Hong Kong capital as such (indeed at the meeting they seemed to recognise that such capital would not head for the North of England in any event).

3.

I have discussed with DTI (IBB). They await only our confirmation that we see no objection before letting NEDC proceed. I can see no basis for our

our resisting this, and attach a telegram to this effect. I have told DTI that

I hope to give them a positive response by Friday 10 January.

нии оао

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

0 8 JAN 1986

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

REGISTRY

Xerion Taken

PA

ск

7 January 1986

C E Leeks

Hong Kong Department