BRITISH conglomerate Cable and Wireless said yesterday it had received no indication that its business was under threat from China because of the row over political reform in Hong Kong.
Chief executive James Ross, speaking after meeting senior Chinese official Lu Ping in Beijing, said he had heard nothing about reported plans for China to impose sanctions against British firms if Governor Chris Patten went ahead with his reform plans.
''There's no threat to us. You can talk about rumours but we have received no threat,'' Mr Ross said.
He had discussed with Mr Lu, the Director of the State Council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Cable and Wireless' long-term investment plans for Hong Kong.
''Cable and Wireless has been an investor in Hong Kong for over a hundred years now and we are looking forward to being an investor for the next hundred years,'' he said.
The China News Service last night quoted Mr Lu as telling Mr Ross and his colleagues that Hong Kong would continue to maintain a friendly environment for international investors.
Mr Lu said China wanted British consortiums including Cable and Wireless and its subsidiary, Hong Kong Telecom, to stay on and expand their businesses in Hong Kong.
