TNAG-2193-FCO40-3130-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 32

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United Biscuits

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SYON LANE ISLEWORTH

gas dura, 42,

The Rt. Hon. Secretary of State,

Foreign & Commonwealth Office,

Downing Street,

London SW1A 2AL.

8th January 1990

I enclose a copy of a letter I wrote to Geoffrey Howe on 2nd June and of his undated reply.

The biscuit factory which I mentioned we were building is now the biscuits are selling well in China itself and we are in operation ;

I said on Panorama exporting quite substantial quantities to Hong Kong. recently that what I most wanted to hear on my death-bed was the sound of a thousand million Chinese mouths munching McVitie's digestive biscuits !!

While to some people biscuits may not be the most important product in the world, they are the highest selling single grocery item in

We the UK, which puts them in perspective in that context at least! have invested several millions in this project, and I very much hope that the Government will agree that our initiative is important and worthwhile.

Our two Hong Kong managers (particulars attached) are

essential to the future of our project in China, and if they are. not included in those who are granted the right to British citizenship, we are almost certain to lose then they are likely to leave for Canada or

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Australia. I very much hope that they will be given full British citizenship so that we can make a success of the United Biscuits' Chinese operation and ensure that the British flag is flying high there for an important sector of the food industry.