TNAG-1629-FCO40-2245-Visits-by-Sir-David-Akers-Jones-(Acting-Governor-of-Hong-Kon-1987 — Page 35

RD Clift Esq Political Adviser Hong Kong

Dear

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کہ بہت

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REC

British Consulate-General 244 Yong Fu Lu

Shanghai

People's Republic of China

Telephone: 375935

Telex: 33476 BRIT CN

Telegraphic Address Britain Shanghai

er 1987

Ocember

11 JAM 1988 2 // // 21/2

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In Entert på.

Em 19%

VISIT BY GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG TO SHANGHAI, 1-3 DECEMBER 1987

1.

The visit by Sir David and Lady Wilson to Hong Kong from 1-3 December to open the Hong Kong Trade Development Council's Shanghai office (the first outside Peking) marked an important step in the development of the institutional links between Hong Kong and the mainland. The importance attached to it on the Chinese side was shown by the impressively senior turn-out for all the occasions associated with the event. It was unusual, for instance, to have the presence of State Councillor Zhang Jingfu. No doubt family links with Hong Kong (I understand his son is working there at present) and his past responsibilities in his native province, Anhui (now part of the Shanghai Economic Zone) helped, but the various courtesies shown during the visit are a sign of the new relationship with Hong Kong.

2.

The visit had very full media coverage and attendance was excellent at the Seminar on Economic and Trade Co-operation between Hong Kong and the Shanghai Economic Zone held on the afternoon of 2 December. The Governor's speech at the opening of the seminar attracted widespread favourable comment: both for its strong encouragement of Hong Kong investment in the Shanghai EZ and because it was delivered in Chinese. My American colleague told me that the Chairman of the Municipal Foreign Economic and Trade Commission, Shen Beizhang, had teased him that the consular community here were all less impressive as Chinese speakers. we have been put on our mettle!

3.

So

Although the former Mayor of Shanghai, Wang Daohan, was naturally prominent as the Head of the State Council Planning Office of the Shanghai Economic Zone, which was the sponsor of the Seminar, it is well to note that the office is a purely consultative body with only some 30 staff members and no administrative powers. In practice I suspect Hong Kong's links with the Shanghai EZ will develop more through expansion of existing channels than through anything which is done by the Shanghai EZ. However its effort in improving plans for better transport and telecommunications in the region will obviously influence the investment climate.

14.