TNAG-2660-FCO40-3856-Future-of-Hong-Kong-British-Consulate-General-1992 — Page 14

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MANAGEMENT IN CONFIDENCE

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the tendering system is rigourous and honest;

-.12 years of pain has made them fit;

recession in Europe makes them competitive on price;

they no longer offer all-British bids but form international consortia;

- their strategies make it essential they entrench here (it is the main growth area of the world for certain industries, eg aviation);

they have invested money, time and effort in getting their packages right and learning about the market.

10.

HMG has come a long way also, especially with the trans formed role of PEP. But our participation is modest, and where we fall down is by failing to provide continuity. We can, however, provide this in Hong Kong and China, where continuity is the central, inevitable plank of HMG's policy.

CONCLUSIONS

11.

(I

In the light of the above I have sketched out fresh objectives. These are for discussion, with the aim of agreement with the Minister of Trade and DTI by August. have deliberately not put them in the standard format - that comes later once we have identified the woods.

12.

A note is also attached on possible resource requirements.

Att

SPD/hh

SP Day

22 June 1992