Govt warned: ignore U.S. textile proposals
Government was warned last night to ignore proposals from Mr Maurice Stans, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, which might threaten Hongkong's vast export trade with the United States.
If the proposal were accepted it could deliver a body blow to Hongkong's trade in textile exports to the U.S. which amounted to about $1,500m last year.
The warning- came from Mr Francis Tien, Chairman of the Hong- kong Garment Manufac- turers Association, and Mr K. S. Lum, President of the Federation of Hongkong Garment Manufacturers.
It coincided with the at- rival from Taipei of Mr Stans on the last leg of a Far East tour to explain the Nixon Administration's policy on foreign trade.
In a press release, Mr Tien and Mr Lam pointed out the textile industry was the largest single employer of labour in Hongkong and the U.S. was the Colony's largest textile market.
May lose jobs
Mr Stans
and other U.S. officials here. They will be in Hongkong for two days.
"Any moves to restrain ex- ports could throw many people out of work. U.S. official publications them- selves show the U.S. textile In an airport statement industry as very prosperous. Mr Stans said: "I am here The impartial report by the not to negotiate, nor to make U.S. Tariff Commission in any demands. I am here only 1968 said the U.S. textile in- to present facts and reach dustry had enjoyed a period an understanding with Gov- of unparalled growth since ernment officials here and 1961," said the release.
with industry," he said.
Hongkong's penetration of the U.S. man-made fibre market was infinitesimal less than one per cent. "It is ridiculous to argue exports of this size are causing damage,” said the release.
His mission in Hongkong, 61-year-old Mr Stans said was at the direct request of President' Nixon.
Mr Stans said he would hold discussions with Govern- ment on the textile industr, in America.
Meanwhile Mr Stans and his party of 13 were met at
He also said he would Kai Tak Airport last night report to President Nixon on by Mr Edwin W. Martin, the his return to Washington. United States Consul-General,
REPENED IN REGISTRY No.51 29 MAY 1969
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Taiwan rejection
His welcome in other countries have been warın and friendly and he had had frank and constructive dis- cussions on all topics, said Mr Stans.
But an agency report from Taipei yesterday said Taiwan had flatly rejected the U.S. proposal for voluntary res- traint on the export of textile products to the U.S. This followed a similar re- jection by Japan,
On
Commenting yesterday Mr Stans' visit, Mr Vincent Woo, Chairman of the Hong- .kong Cotton Spinners' As- sociation, sald it was welcome news, to the extent it would provide an opportunity to e consider ways of promoting | C U.S. trade with Hongkong.
be appropriate to refer to the clause in the Long-Term Arrangement on Textiles which explicitly excluded Its extension to cover products made of übres other than cotton.
Mr Woo said Hongkong had no alternative but to oppose artificial trade restraints of any variety, because the 4m people living here "inside an area no larger than a speck on the map and having no natural resources to speak of could hope to survive only by trade."
Mr Woo said, however, it was encouraging to note the declared policy of the new Administration in Washington to the effect it was in the in- terests of the U.S. and the rest of the world to have a movement toward freer trade.
"But one cannot fail to per- ceive and be mystified," he said, by an apparent con- tradiction to the declared policy in the present U.S. move to urge Hongkong and others to introduce voluntary restraints on their exports.
"Even to a casual observer, what is now proposed GS something *voluntary' must appear to be a tactic backed by a threat of possible unila- teral action."
in
(See also Business News I)
If, however, it brought a retu curtailment of freedom in healt international trade, it would there
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