TNAG-2617-FCO40-3808-Visit-by-Lord-Caithness--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-C-1992 — Page 41

This is the main

-

not worries about

Kong economy and the bright prospects.

impression that will have been left

anarchy!

British Companies

I am equally confident of the continuing leading role of

British - and British linked companies. The figures speak for themselves: size of Britain's investment portfolio is second to none, at some twenty billion pounds at the last estimate; visible exports to Hong Kong are growing at a rate of 10% (and considerably above the rate of United Kingdom inflation) and we are maintaining our position as Europe's leading exporter to the territory. This is my first important point. The British Government is committed to working for a strong British Commercial presence in Hong Kong and the region, up to and beyond 1997.

Reassuring that the exercise to determine which companies

could qualify for 'British Links' points under the nationality selection scheme, has revealed that just under one thousand companies in Hong Kong are British or have

close British Links.

Two Way Investment

That latter distinction is important because it illustrates what I trust will continue to be a growing trend in the United Kingdom/Hong Kong relationship, the increasing volume of two way investment. One example the purchase of

G

Felixstowe docks by Hutchison a real success story not. least because, by attracting increasing business to Felixstowe they were able to rationalise the two comparries whe previously operated the docks without a single

because it enables them to look after Reir container redundancy. Customers both

and

in Hangley of

in the uk,

and has attracted in creamy business to Felixstor

I hope, as a result of the very successful Inward Investment

Seminar mounted by the Trade Commission last November, there

JM1ABU/2

SIM