TNAG-2047-FCO40-2917-Visits-by-staff-of-the-Department-of-Trade-and-Industry-to-H-1990 — Page 88

Hong Kong continues to be one of the most visited markets under

DTI's official support schemes; in the financial year 1990/1 the

Department will be supporting 18 outward trade missions and 10

British groups at international exhibitions here. We are also

supporting store promotions of British goods this autumn at Sincere

Department Store and Olivers Delicatessens.

To underline our commitment to increasing our trade with Hong Kong,

we recently upgraded the post of Senior British Trade Commissioner.

This not only demonstrates the importance we attach to this work

but is also a mark of Britain's wider political commitment to Hong

Kong. The staffing of the BTC will gradually be increased in the

run-up to 1997. Our commercial and economic links are an

important element in our relationship with Hong Kong and our

determination to strengthen them illustrates our commitment to Hong

Kong's future. We are determined that after 1997 Hong Kong will

continue to be the phenomenal success story it is today.

A recent survey conducted by the Hong Kong Industry Department

demonstrates clearly that Hong Kong is becoming an increasingly

important regional centre for overseas companies. This is a

sign of the confidence with which they and you view the future. I

can assure you that this confidence is shared in the UK. We do not

view the approach of 1997 as marking the end of an era but rather

as the opportunity to build on that confidence; to further

vte19mon.210

9