TNAG-2127-FCO40-3037-Investment-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 137

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3.

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3. With all its worts our paper remains our best estimate of the

value of the items included in the survey. If there are arguments

for lower figures in the areas which I have designated illustrative

then it would be wise to err on the side of caution and use them.

The Swire and Keswick letters are interesting but much of what they

offer falls into the illustrative category of information about

British involvement in Hong Kong. The Swire letter might enable us

to lift the figures in the first two categories of paragraph 5 of

our paper to £3 billion plus and £6.5 billion but there could be

compensatory figures elsewhere.

ation

4. For a basic formulation for replies to questions you might

draw on the paragraph I suggested for the report to parliament.

5. Some further comment on the CPU paper is appropriate. On the

recommendations: Attracting foreign, including UK, investment to

Hong Kong must principally be a Hong Kong responsibility. It has the

mechanism and must see that it functions efficiently. If it truly

wants that investment and finds it of value then it cannot complain

similar about being exploited and nor can the arguments of others stand up

(Recommendation (b)). The tables can in any case be turned on the

PRC since its investments and interests here are large also and

growing. In manufacturing industry for instance it is ahead of us

and so are Japan and the USA by a long way. Hong Kong companies have

investments overseas and sell to the world (twice as much to the UK

as we sold to Hong Kong in 1989). This is a two way traffic at all

levels which no one could seriously claim exploitive without themselves

being accused. The UK is itself open to all comers for investment.

16.

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