LETTERS Chinese gift horses
Sir: Much has been made recently by the Labour Party and by the Sunday Times of donations to the Conservative Party by, inter alia, rich Chinese businessmen from Hong Kong. The inference is that such donations have a sinister connotation and that they may even be pegged to the distri- bution of political favour. It is important that this smear is dealt with and that these donations are put into a proper and ratio- nal perspective.
The Sunday Times has particularly fea- tured two of Hong Kong's most distin- guished businessmen, the late Sir Y-K Pao and Mr Li Ka-shing. The Sunday Times and Mr Kinnock would do well to reflect on the character and the substance of these two gentlemen. Although Hong Kong based, their commercial empires are both leg- endary and truly international. Both of these individuals will rank in any list of the world's top 100 businessmen. Their wealth confers upon them that great luxury — freedom. Freedom in particular to invest where they will. Is there some mysterious obligation upon them to invest in the Unit- ed Kingdom? Of course not. They may commit their resources, and indeed they have, to the United States, to Canada, to Holland, Germany and many other coun- tries. Fortunately for the United Kingdom, and thanks to the policies of Mrs Thatcher and Mr Major, they have both invested heavily in this country. Sir Y-K's companies have supported the British ship building industry for many years and there are many working men for whom Mr Kinnock pro- fesses to speak who have more to thank Sir Y-K for than they have Mr Kinnock. Mr Li Ka-shing has begun to invest in this country more recently (including an investment in a company of which I am chairman) but already his commitments are far reaching. He has just acquired Felixstowe Docks, and has invested substantially in our future telecommunications. In addition his Hong Kong companies, Hong Kong Electric in particular, have been consistent purchasers of British equipment. Mr Kinnock would do well to enquire of the Chairman of the Newcastle-based NEI (formerly Northern Engineering Industries) how much his com- pany's workforce owe to Mr Li's support. Would it not be more appropriate for Mr Kinnock to have thanked these two gentle- men for their confidence in the United Kingdom instead of carping about the red herring of what, measured by their wealth, would be miniscule donations to the Con- servative Party.
It is not these two gentlemen's faith in the United Kingdom that is questionable but rather the irresponsibility of the Labour Party's posturing, which puts at risk so many British jobs. At the dinner in Hong Kong on 5 September, attended by the Prime Minister, there were present five of the colony's most powerful business lead- ers. I was also present. Financial contribu- tions to the Conservative Party were not at any time referred to. What the Prime Min- ister was concerned to do was to thank these men for their confidence in Britain and to listen to their anxieties. Mr Kinnock would be well advised to follow his example for all our sakes.
J.G. Cluff
58 St James's Street, London SW1
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