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HONG KONG WORKS CONFERENCE,
WEDNESDAY 10 NOVEMBER 1993
As at 8.11.93
Introduction
Today's conference comes at an appropriate time - and in an appropriate place.
A time when we are looking forward, positively, to Hong Kong's future. In
London, whose financial institutions, investors and exporters must increasingly
look to Asia and the Pacific. Coming from the world's premier financial
centre, they should take advantage of Hong Kong - the hub of the world's fastest growing region. The large and distinguished audience here today is
evidence of an encouraging depth of interest in Hong Kong's future.
Hong Kong is the most spectacular success story of Britain's colonial experience. As Chris Patten has put it, Hong Kong is one of the economic
wonders of the world. But it is more than that. It is an important responsibility
for Britain, and one which we are determined to discharge with honour.
Let me come directly to the theme of your conference. Hong Kong Works.
Yes, it does. And it is also the natural base for British firms wanting a share of
the Asia-Pacific action.
By the end of the century the output of Asia and the Pacific is forecast to
exceed that of the European community. Hong Kong is ideally placed to
benefit from this growth, and particularly from the economic revolution taking
place in China. Over the last ten years, Hong Kong has so expanded its manufacturing base across the border that it is now the engine of growth for a large area of Southern China.
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