CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM BTC HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE F CO
TELNO 248
OF 221135Z AUGUST 91
IMMEDIATE DTI, ECGD, PEKING, HONG KONG
WEB 12/2
026226 13
MDHIAN 9745
12...
891
DTI FOR ROBERTS DUS, FROM HEAP.
DTI FOR MEADWAY, OT2
ADAMS, PEP, AND MILES, JOINT DIRECTORATE.
HONG KONG (STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR ACTING GOVERNOR)
PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO HONG KONG:
BRIEFING: COMMERCIAL ASPECTS.
1. THE PROGRAMME FOR THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO HONG KONG GIVES ONLY LIMITED SCOPE FOR ATTENTION TO THE UK'S COMMERCIAL INTERESTS. DETAILS OF THE COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES HERE ARE KNOWN TO THE DTI AND WE REPORT THEM AS THEY DEVELOP. IT MAY NEVERTHELESS BE HELPFUL IF I SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING POINTS AS WORTH KEEPING IN MIND DURING THE VISIT:
(A) PROJECT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN HONG KONG OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS ARE PROBABLY GREATER THAN THOSE ANYWHERE. MIFT LISTS SOME OF THE MORE PROMINENT, AND INDICATES KNOWN OR LIKELY BRITISH INVOLVEMENT. IT MAKES DULL READING BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO GRASP THE SCALE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES.
(B) THE AIRPORT OF COURSE FIGURES VERY LARGE IN THAT LIST. IT WOULD SURELY BE UNFORTUNATE IF THE PRIME MINISTER GOES TO CHINA TO SIGN AN MOU WHICH RESULTS IN A PROJECT IN WHICH BRITAIN FAILS TO GET A SIGNIFICANT SHARE OF THE RESULTING BUSINESS. BRITISH FIRMS OF COURSE MUST BE COMPETITIVE. BUT EQUALLY I HOPE THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL VIEW THEIR EFFORTS BENIGNLY. BY RE-OPENING THE PRE-QUALIFICATION FOR THE POUNDS 600 MILLION AIRPORT PLATFORM PROJECT, AND LETTING IT BE KNOWN THAT THEY HAD DONE SO TO ALLOW THE COMPETING GROUPS TO ADD CHINESE (PRC) PARTNERS, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN THE INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY THE IMPRESSION THAT EACH GROUP NEEDS A CHINESE ASSOCIATE TO ACHIEVE RESPECTABILITY. WOULD THAT EACH GROUP FELT THE SAME PRESSURE TO TAKE ON A BRITISH PARTNER. BRITISH COMPANIES WILL NEED OUR EVERY SUPPORT.
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