TNAG-2248-FCO40-3231-Trade-investment-conferences-concerning-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 49

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1.

PROFESSOR TOMMY KOH, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE 20 SEPTEMBER (NOT DECEMBER AS STATED IN MY TUR) SINGAPORE/HONG KONG QUOTE GLOBALISTION THROUGH TWINNING UNQUOTE CONFERENCE, ATTENDED MY LUNCH ON 25 SEPTEMBER FOR LORD CAITHNESS. I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK HIM ABOUT THE CONFERENCE (ON WHICH BTC HONG KONG WILL CLEARLY BE WELL

INFORMED).

2.

KOH SAID THAT THE EVENT WAS THE SECOND IN A SERIES OF ANNUAL CONFERENCES, THE FIRST OF WHICH, ENTITLED QUOTE HONG KONG: BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE UNQUOTE, HAD BEEN HELD IN SINGAPORE LAST AUGUST. THE MAIN THEME OF THE CONFERENCE WAS THAT THE ECONOMIES OF HONG KONG AND SINGAPORE ARE COMPLEMENTARY AND COULD HELP EACH OTHER EXPAND. SINGAPORE COULD PROVIDE A POINT OF ENTRY INTO SOUTHEAST ASIAN MARKETS FOR HONG KONG FIRMS, WHILE HONG KONG COULD PROVIDE A BASIS FOR .. SINGAPOREAN FIRMS TO EXPLOIT THE CHINESE MARKET. KOH ADDED THAT JOINT VENTURES WITH SINGAPOREAN FIRMS MIGHT MAKE IT POLITICALLY EASIER FOR HONG KONG BUSINESSES TO EXPAND THEIR ACTIVITIES IN CHINA. THE MAIN BUSINESS OF THE CONFERENCE WAS APPARENTLY DEALT WITH IN A HALF DAY, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A WASH-UP SESSION THE FOLLOWING DAY. ATTENDANCE WAS LIMITED TO 250 SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND TOP CORPORATE EXECUTIVES. KOH ADDED, HOWEVER, THAT THIS HAD MEANT THAT CONFERENCE SPEAKERS HAD ESSENTIALLY BEEN PREACHING TO THE CONVERTED: IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT NEXT TIME TO ACCESS THOSE COMPANIES NOT YETACTIVE IN EACH OTHER'S MARKET.

3. BG GEORGE YEO, SINGAPORE MINISTER FOR INFORMATION AND THEARTS AND SECOND MINISTERFOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, ALSO CONFIRMED AT MY LUNCH THAT HE WAS SERIOUS ABOUT THE CONCEPT EXPRESSED IN HIS SPEECH DURING THE CONFERENCE THAT SINGAPORE COULD OFFER HONG KONG AN ALTERNATIVE TTHE BRITISHMODEL AFTER THE TERRITORY REVERTED TO CHINA, SAYING THAT, AFTER 1997, HONG KONG WOULD FIND IT DIFFICULT TO LOOK TO LONDON COR

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