- 17
which will officially be opened next month by His Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales, and one can see how Hong Kong
is
increasingly becoming a major regional centre for trade,
finance and communications.
So it is not surprising that
many companies have chosen to base their regional offices
example, 10 of our overseas incorporated banks
here. For
operate
many other
international companies. We
tegional headquarters. So do
welcome this. Indeed we hope
that others will follow suit.
(b) Hong Kong: the Gateway to China
31.
I
have already referred to Hong Kong's role as a
gateway to China. Statistics can be dull; but in this area
they are startling and revealing. Our re-exports increased
by 518 in value in the single year 1987 to 1988. Almost a
half of
these originated in China. And over one-third went
to China. China has used Hong Kong as a gateway for its
exports for many years. But it is only relatively recently
that we have played such an important role as a channel for
its imports. Our Asia-Pacific neighbours have been
quarter of all Japanese
especially quick to see Hong Kong's potential in this area.
For example, in 1988 about one
exports to China were routed through Hong Kong.
/32.
Hong
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