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The Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong
Telegraphic Address:
"MAFTS” Hong Kong
合聯商廠華中港香
俊大會商廠五十六至四十六中游干港香:裝純港香
嚮六溪大行銀合聯國中號七十六街老皆正龍九:處聯辦龍九
Hong Kong Office; C.M.A. Building, 64-65, Connaught Road, C., Hong Kong.
Kowloon Office: United Chinese Bank Bldg., 5th Fl., 67, Argyle St., Mongkok, Kowloon.
Our Reb28/1/294/3
Your Ret
Tel. H-456166 (5 lines) K-943939 & K-945715
11th September, 1970.
7-70-5000 W.P.C.
The Rt. Hon. Geoffrey Rippon,
P.C., Q.C., M.P.
European Affairs Minister
U.K. Government
Your Honour,
I have the honour to extend, on behalf of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, our warm welcome to Your Honour's visit to Hong Kong, and would like to take this opportunity to submit our views on the likely effects to Hong Kong economy on the issue of Britain's proposed entry into the EEC. I am aware that Your Honour would have acquired first-hand information from Government and other sources on Hong Kong's position whilst being here, but would nevertheless venture to express our concern on the matter.
Despite our diversification of markets in recent years, U.K. remains Hong Kong's second largest market. The abolition of Commonwealth Preference if and when Britain is admitted to EEC membership would greatly reduce the competitiveness of many of Hong Kong's manufactured exports in Britain, especially so while merchandise exported thereto from EEC and EFTA countries would, on the contrary, become duty free. It is important to note that exports of domestic products to Britain, although now decreasing to 14% of Hong Kong's total domestic exports, is representative of Hong Kong's major product lines, and this trade is providing employment to tens of thousands of industrial workers in view of the high labour content required to qualify for Commonwealth Preference Certificates. Any set-back in this market would therefore mean a serious blow to Hong Kong's economy with its grave consequences.
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/The Association