TNAG-2248-FCO40-3231-Trade-investment-conferences-concerning-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 110

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013053

MDLIAN 3677

(III)

(IV)

2.

ENJOY SIMILAR SUCCESSES OVER THESE NEXT FEW YEARS IN THIS THIS HUGE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, AND PARTICULARLY OF COURSE IN RELATION TO THE AIRPORT.

I AGREE THAT REFERENCE MIGHT ALSO BE MADE TO THE EVER- GROWING INTER-RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ECONOMY OF HONG KONG AND THAT OF GUANGDONG. THIS SHOULD GIVE HONG KONG A MORE SECURE FUTURE, ESPECIALLY IN THE GROWING SERVICES SECTOR, EVEN IF MORE OF THE MANUFACTURING SHIFTS ACROSS THE BORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CHEAPER LAND AND LABOUR.

IF THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS ABLE TO SAY SOMETHING REASSURING ABOUT ECGD'S CONTINUING COVER FOR HONG KONG AND PARTICULARLY FOR ITS PROGRAMME OF MAJOR PROJECTS, THEN THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. THERE IS OF COURSE AN INCREASING AWARENESS HERE THAT ECGD PROJECT COVER IS SUBJECT TO OVERALL COUNTRY LIMITS, AND THAT THE PROJECT PROGRAMME HERE WOULD GO MUCH BEYOND NORMAL LIMITS IF BRITISH FIRMS ARE EVEN MODERATELY SUCCESSFUL IN OBTAINING THE BIG CONTRACTS.

I HOPE THESE SUGGESTIONS ARE STILL IN TIME TO BE USEFUL. YOUR TUR, BY AN ERROR OF DISTRIBUTION, WAS NOT COPIED TO US AT THE TIME. NOR WAS YOUR FAXED COPY OF THE LETTER OF 24 JUNE FROM MR WALKER TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE ADDRESSED TO THIS POST, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE SINCE SEEN IT.

HEAP

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

35

LIMITED

HKD

FED

JOINT DIRECTORATE

PS

ADDITIONAL

2

DISTRIBUTION

37

PS/LORD CAITHNESS

PS/PUS

SIR J COLES

MR BURNS

MR YAXLEY (HKGO/LONDON)

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HD/PEP, DTI VIC ST

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