Sessional_Paper_1948 — Page 196

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9. The representatives of the Hong Kong Committee were royally entertained during their stay in the Home country. The London Office of the Hong Kong Govern- ment organised a luncheon at the Savoy Hotel, on behalf of 150 British Industrialists who were interested in the Far East, at which Sir Leslie Boyce took the Chair, and Sir Sidney Caine, Under-Secretary for Colonial Affairs, spoke. After this introduction, the Hong Kong representatives attracted considerable attention and invitations were showered upon them from all sides so that it became quite impossible to accept them all. Among the major functions which they attended were the British Industries Fair dinner at the Mansion House, where they were able to meet the Lord Mayor of London and Mr. Harold Wilson. Others of the delegation visited the British Industries Fair at Birmingham as guests of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and the British Industries Fair Management Committee. Later the representatives attended the Overseas League where they were presented to Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth. At the close of the Fair the party travelled to Manchester as guests of the Cotton Board and visited several Lancashire textile mills and textile machinery manufacturing plants. Before their return, the Mayor and Corporation of Blackpool accorded them a civic reception. Back in London the Glen Line entertained the party to lunch on the "Glenartney" in the King George V Dock and the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank arranged a cocktail party. Luncheons were also given to the Representatives by the China Association, the London Chamber of Commerce, and the Ginger Association. Visits were arranged to the Sorbo Rubber Factory, and to Messrs Horlicks Factory at Slough who organised a tour of Windsor Castle. The Representatives were later invited to the Headquarters of Messrs J. Lyons & Co. Ltd. at Cadby Hall to observe modern methods of food preparation. Finally, the Anglo- Chinese Chamber of Commerce provided a farewell luncheon at the Dorchester Hotel at which the Secretary of State for the Colonies expressed his keen pleasure in this visit of the Hong Kong representatives.

10. By all available criteria this first effort of Hong Kong to participate in the British Industries Fair must be pronounced an unqualified success. We believe that the three-fold object which the Committee had in view in organising this participation in the British Industries Fair has been more successfully accomplished than any member would have cared to forecast before the Fair opened. In terms of actual business obtained it is impossible to estimate with accuracy the additional amount which the Fair has or will bring to the Colony, it would indeed have been pleasant to publish figures showing the total value of orders booked at the Fair, but this has not been possible. Two local firms, however, have already reported that they are negotiating some twenty new contracts all of which are directly attributable to their participation in the British Industries Fair. Practically all firms feel that new contacts have been established. The business results of this experiment can only be measured over a long period. Participation in an exhibition is a business risk of the ordinary kind but all the exhibitors of manufactured goods are highly pleased with the results of the Fair to date. It is already obvious from the enquiries received that Continental and African markets have been brought closer to Hong Kong than ever before.

11. While it is therefore impossible to assess in terms of hard cash the results to local business of the Exhibition, the Committee feels that it is on firmer ground in estimating the remaining two objects it had in view. There is no doubt that the Representatives who visited the Fair and who toured British Industrial Centres came away with a revised opinion on industrial organisation. The very size of the factories they visited, the methods which they were able to see in operation and the conversations which they had with British businessmen, have given them a new outlook on industry which is bound to affect their attitude towards local industry. All the representatives admit that this visit has been an education which has shattered any complacency they might previously have entertained concerning the future organisation of Hong Kong's industry. To have seen processes done in a bigger and better way is perhaps the most telling antidote which could have been found against the parochial conservatism which accepts things as they are as being equivalent to things as they ought to be. This change in attitude must not be overstated. Hong Kong industry is not going to be scrapped and rebuilt overnight, but the preliminary thoughts have been instilled into the minds of our visitors that progress is necessary