Simon Rodwell, China business advisor to the China-Britain Council, says UK companies need Hong Kong expertise to reap cost efficiencies in the mainland

Hong Kong companies can be partners for UK firms looking for manufacturing opportunities in the Chinese mainland, according to the leader of a recent business mission to the SAR.

In a webcast interview with the Trade Development Council, mission leader Simon Rodwell, China business advisor to the China-Britain Council (CBBC), said UK companies were increasingly finding it tough to stay in business with rising costs, and were looking for more competitively priced production opportunities in the mainland.

"This mission is for the companies to explore business opportunities for production in the mainland. They may want to find a Hong Kong partner to enter the China market or they may want to go alone, but either way they would need professional expertise and services from Hong Kong," Mr Rodwell said.

The 11-member delegation includes small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and "multiplier" organisations advising companies in the UK. They represent a spectrum of industries ranging from construction and telecommunications to electrical products and consumer items.

CBBC is a UK agency helping British companies to do business in China. Over one third of CBBC's 350 members are SMEs. It has a network of six offices in China.

The UK is Hong Kong's eighth largest trading partner. In the first 11 months of last year total trade between UK and Hong Kong amounted to US$9.4 billion.

UK Mission explores production partnership with Chinese mainland

Related link: 
China-Britain Council www.cbbc.org