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Timely

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I write to comment on 'Hi-tech caution' (Sunday Morning Post, August 29).

The writer of that piece, Chris Chapel, would have your readers believe that H & Q Asia Pacific is the only firm involved in the development of the proposed Silicon Harbour and would, thus, be the only beneficiary of any Hong Kong government support to make this project internationally competitive.

The fact is that we expect the 200-hectare project site to provide a home to some 50 to 100 international and Hong Kong-based companies. These firms will come together to create a technology cluster that will have far-reaching impact on the development of technology in Hong Kong and technological links between Hong Kong and the mainland. The direct and indirect benefits of this project will extend to many companies and to individuals throughout Hong Kong.

Our experience with Taiwan's Hsinchu Science Based Industrial Park provides clear evidence that a large number of companies are attracted when there is an anchor project such as the advanced microelectronics centre my firm will develop in Silicon Harbour. Our conversations with some of the world's leading technology companies assures us that the interest in participating in this project is quite intense. These are firms that drive the industry and can thus ensure the project will always remain state-of-the-art.

Mr Chapel's question regarding why a project of this type has not attracted previous investment interest does not consider that the project is most timely due to the large concentration of customers in southern China for the products that will be created by Silicon Harbour companies. These customers and others in markets that will also be served by this project did not exist as recently as five years ago. And, lastly, we must not overlook the fact that there is a new public and private sector environment in Hong Kong that recognises that technology has a significant role to play in Hong Kong's 21st century economy.

CLARENCE W TENG Managing Director H & Q Asia Pacific

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