TNAG-2679-FCO40-3876-British-Trade-Commission--Hong-Kong--and-China-Trade-Unit-re-1993 — Page 172

RESTRICTED

045601 MDLIAN 6510

RESTRICTED

FM BTC HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 12

OF 12113OZ JANUARY 93

INFO PRIORITY DTI, ODA, PEKING, WASHINGTON

DTI: FOR PS/MINISTER FOR TRADE,

OT2 AND OT2/2D

HEAD OF PEP

INDL

P COP

تن مرأت

HKD 120/1

13 JAN 1993

FICE

ODA: FOR PS/MINISTER

AINSCROW, DUS.

QB

BUSINESS CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG: MINISTER FOR TRADE'S VISIT.

SUMMARY

1.

SIGNS OF REVIVED SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNOR'S PROGRAMME. REASONS WHY, AND PROPOSALS TO KEEP THE PENDULUM MOVING. IMPACT OF WELL-TIMED VISIT BY MR.NEEDHAM. HIGH IMPORTANCE OF GUANGZHOU METRO.

DETAIL

THERE ARE SIGNS OF A POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE MOOD WITHIN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS

2.

3

-

(A) THE CLEVER ONES ARE BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS DOING AND THAT HE MEANS WHAT HE SAYS:

(B) INDIVIDUAL LEADERS NOW SEE THE REAL LONG-TERM

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM OF A BETTER UK/CHINA

RELATIONSHIP:

(C) THE DOG HAS NOT BARKED. NO BUSINESS HAS BEEN LOST: AND

(D) THE VOLUME FROM PEKING IS LOWER.

-

ALL

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF BUSINESS COMMUNITIES HAS BEEN WELL STUDIED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE BUSINESS CYCLE. THE PHENONEMOM HERE IS PARTICULARLY INTERESTING. CLEARLY 'THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY' 350,000 OF THEM - IS NOT ANALYSING THE DETAIL OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS OVER EVERY LUNCH AND DINNER TABLE. BUT

1

PAGE

RESTRICTED