TNAG-2356-FCO40-3427-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 87

RESTRICTED

721

MDLIAN 462

FARM IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND WAS BRIEFED ON ITS RESEARCH

PROGRAMME.

5. ON HIS SECOND DAY, THE MINISTER VISITED A FISH FARM AND AN EXPERIMENTAL MARICULTURE ZONE. FISH FARMING NOW CONTRIBUTES A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF HONG KONG'S FISH SUPPLIES. MR GUMMER WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT THE ADVANCED FISH CULTURE METHODS WERE BEING CONDUCTED IN JOINT VENTURE WITH THE JAPANESE. HIS OFFICIALS UNDERTOOK TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE TO INVOLVE BRITISH FIRMS IN

FUTURE WORK IN THIS AREA.

6. LATER, MR GUMMER HAD MEETINGS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND WITH HKG OFFICIALS. HE WAS GIVEN A COMPREHENSIVE BRIEFING ON THE NEW AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY. IN THE AFTERNOON, THE MINISTER GAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION OFFICES WHICH WAS WELL ATTENDED, AND WHICH PRODUCED GOOD PUBLICITY. THAT EVENING, THE MINISTER AND PARTY ATTENDED A DINNER WHICH WE HOSTED.

M

7 ON THURSDAY 3 OCTOBER, THE MINISTER CROSSED THE BORDER BACK INTO CHINA TO VISIT THE SHENZHEN SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE JUST NORTH

OF HONG KONG WHERE HE SAW EXAMPLES OF INTENSIVE CHICKEN BREEDING, HYDROPONICS, A PIG SLURRY METHANE GAS CONVERSION PLANT, A FISH BREEDING FARM AND A FRESH WATER PEARL PRODUCTION UNIT. THE

ENTREPRENEURIAL NATURE OF THIS ENTERPRISE CONFIRMED THE

MINISTER'S VIEW THAT CHINESE AGRICULTURE IN THAT REGION IS

BENEFITING FROM A MARKET ECONOMY APPROACH. IN SHENZHEN HE ALSO VISITED THE SUCCESSFUL UNITED BISCUITS FACTORY AT SHEKOU, AN EXAMPLE OF UK INVESTMENT IN GUANGDONG'S FAST GROWING FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES.

CONCLUSION

8. MR GUMMER TOOK EVERY EFFORT WHILE IN HONG KONG AND SHENZHEN TO PROMOTE BRITISH AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS AND EXPERTISE. I HOPE THE MAFF WILL BE ABLE TO FOLLOW UP THE CONSIDERABLE EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES WHICH HONG KONG AND THE SOUTH CHINA AREA OFFERS TO

BRITISH SUPPLIERS.

HEAP

YYYY

PAGE

2

RESTRICTED