TNAG-2507-FCO40-3648-Official-visits-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 5

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MAN 3740

PREMIER ZHOU ENLAI, HAD BEEN COMPLETED LAST YEAR. CLEARLY VERY PROUD OF THE PROVINCE'S CULTURAL HISTORY, BAI INVITED ME TO VISIT AT ANY TIME.

5. ON NATURAL RESOURCES, BAI SAID THAT SHAANXI PRODUCED TOP QUALITY COAL, NATURAL GAS AND OIL.

6. THIS MAKES THE FIFTH MEETING I HAVE HAD WITH A CHINESE PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR THIS YEAR. IT IS STRIKING HOW, FOR ALMOST ALL OF THEM HONG KONG IS THEIR LARGEST EXTERNAL MARKET AND LARGEST SOURCE OF EXTERNAL INVESTMENT. IN THE CASE OF SHAANXI IN 1990 (LATEST FIGURES AVAILABLE) 30 PERCENT OF THEIR EXTERNAL TRADE GOES TO HONG KONG AND 87 PERCENT OF THEIR INVESTMENTS COME FROM

OR THROUGH HERE.

WILSON

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

53

DISTRIBUTION

69

FED

.CHINA TRADE

ECONOMIC ADVISERS

ERD

EAPD/ODA

PS/MR GOODLAD

PS/MR PATTEN

PS/PUS

ESED

SIR J COLES

HKD

MR MILES

JOINT DIRECTORATE

NPDD

RAD

MR HUM

MR BONE

MR MANNING

ADDITIONAL

CHINA TRADE

NNNN

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CONFIDENTIAL