TNAG-2031-FCO40-2894-Visit-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1990 — Page 86

taken, or will need to take before long. But I do not want to leave

the impression that I see Hong Kong as a series of problems. On the

contrary, it is an undeniable success story with great prospects. —I dm very keen that should not play down these prospects.

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I am particularly conscious of the economic and commercial

importance of Britain's relationship with Hong Kong. As the twelfth largest trading entity in the World, Hong Kong has every right to

expect to be taken seriously. Fattach very great important to the work of the Senior British Trade Commissioner, Peter Heap, and his

i chciat staff. That is why I have allocated a substantial account of time in my visit to seeing for myself his operation and meeting

representatives of the business community here. We want to

encourage British companies to play the fullest possible part in Hong Kong's future. We are determined to build a greater share of

this important market.

This not a short term strategy. I see the importance of Hong Kong to Britain continuing well beyond 1997. We are working

urgently on plans to establish a substantial representation after

1997, commensurate with our continuing interests in the territory.

I know that the British Council also have plans to extend their

presence here.

Hong Kong is also important as a significant player in the

international financial world. It is also a focus of international

investment. Recent investment decisions by Citicorp, the

international interest in the new airport projects and the cable TV

developments are all an international vote of confidence in Hong

Kong.

Hong Kong is the epitome of a free market economy. We are

seeing all over the world the emergence of market economies in

countries where these would have seemed almost inconceivable until

very recently. So the trend is running in Hong Kong's favour. The

prospects for Hong Kong as we enter the 1990s have never been more

exciting. We are living in a period of dramatic changes around the

ALKAAO