largest possible share of the Hong Kong market; to
publicise the excellent investment opportunities in Hong
Kong and Hong Kong's value as a gateway into the China
market; and to promote economic links generally between
Britain and Hong Kong. Our recent decision to upgrade
the Senior British Trade Commission post and the
frequency of Ministerial visits to Hong Kong with a trade
aspect are measures of the importance we attach to this
remit.
You paint a gloomy picture of British trade and
investment in Hong Kong. I would be the first to agree
that there is always room for improvement.
accept that the trends are discouraging:
But I do not
British
exports to Hong Kong in 1987 exceeded £1 billion (Hong
Kong people purchase more British goods per head than any
other country in Asia except Japan and more than the
United States or Canada). And new British investment in
Hong Kong is up, and has been rising steadily since the
late 1970s.
Your idea of appointing a high profile businessman
to head up the British Trade Commission is an interesting
one. But I have to say that I do not see how it would
benefit British commcercial interests. As you rightly
point out, British exporters cannot expect as a matter of
course any special favours from either the Hong Kong
Government or Hong Kong businesses. They must win
business against a highly competitive field.
Such
/companies
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