And director-general of the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC), David Frost, welcomed the talks.

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The British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) also threw its weight behind the decision.

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Witnesses include the CBI, the British Chamber of Commerce, the Institute of Directors, London First and a good geographical spread of airport operators.

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"This country is running out of rail capacity and rail travel, and the population is continuing to grow, " British Chamber of Commerce director-general David Frost told the Transport Committee on 29 June 2011.

BBC: Transport Committee

Christopher Hammerbeck, the head the British Chamber of Commerce, says that while companies that need to access the Chinese market may continue to be based in Hong Kong, other firms may be driven away.

BBC: Pollution threatens Hong Kong's competitiveness

He is addressing the first annual conference of the British-Irish chamber of commerce conference after holding talks with Irish President Michael Higgins on Thursday.

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More than 250 business people from local companies, business bodies and councils attended the event, which is co-sponsored by the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry and British European.

BBC: NI's top exporter is named

The British Ceramic Confederation (BCC) and North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce want to create a national ceramic skills academy in the city where the industry once thrived.

BBC: Ceramic painters fear traditional skills could die out