TNAG-2907-FCO40-4181-Hong-Kong-Valedictory-despatch-by-Stephen-Day--Senior-Britis-1993 — Page 17

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

RESTRICTED

have discussed the China market

Add

and their companies are

14.

engaged in other markets too - find the Chinese

generally honour their contracts and are not unduly slow or

bureaucratic. In Build Operate and Tranfer projects they are

ahead of most countries. A top executive of a major

multinational told me he liked to do business with China as

it was

run like a multinational ie a vision expressed by the

leadership, devolution to the regions, and a success rate at

meeting targets second to none.

-

45. Macao is in some aspects ahead of Hong Kong, especially

in its economic integration into the Pearl River delta. Too

many maps on the walls of Hong Kong offices show the Territory

as the universe and the Gobi desert beginning over the present

border. The Chinese over there are not a different species. Our great companies and most Hong Kong businesses have learned

to work with them.

46. As for the amazing phenomenon that is Hong Kong, the

lessons it offers are almost unlimited, and they are not new.

As Hong Kong overtakes Britain in per capita income

let us hope more questions will be asked by those British at

home who could do as well as their compatriots in the

territory. The answers lie within them. Enterprise was once

our theme.

47. The principles laid down by Cabot are probably as

valid now as they were in 1553 when he despatched the Merchant

Adventurers to places unknown and I attach these at Annex B.

Conclusion

48.

News from Serbia, Southern Lebanon and Iraq offer daily

reminders of the difficulty of dismantling great empires. The

process begun by Lord Mountbatten in India should be seen by

future historians as Britain's greatest achievement.

mistakes were few in relation to the successes.

The

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.