South China Morning Post 7/12/7i
CMA can't believe UK would let Colony down
The Chinese Manufacturers Association cannot believe that the British Government will succumb to the demand of the protectionist lobby scheming to restrict Hongkong cotton textiles exports to the United Kingdom, and let the Colony down.
This was stated yesterday by the CMA President, Dr C. W. Chuang. He was comment- ing on reports that Britain would again impose quotas on Hongkong textile exports in 1972.
cotton
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He said the United Kingdom had already decided to raise the tariff rate on such imports from to 85 per cent of the general tariff as from January
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Di Chuang said the British Government made it clear that from January 1, she would consider imposing quotas on particular lines of cotton texile imports only if total imports of those items caused disruption.
By VICTOR SU
In re-introducing quotas, the CMA thought the British Government was acting unfairly, and was not taking into consideration the economic consequences of such a move for Hongkong, despite her moral and legal responsibility to the Colony, Dr Chuang said.
Adopt
He recalled that Britain was the originator of many textile restrictions, and now she proposed adopting both higher tariff and quantitative restriction against Hongkong's cotton textile imports.
Dr Chunng said this move wonk add "fuel to the fire of would
protretionisan" winch linally burn everybody.
including Britain herself.
The CMA would support the Hongkong Government in opening negotiations with the British Government to safe- guard Hongkong rights and
interests.
Meantime, the 'Director of Commerce and Industry, Mr Jack Cater, announced last night that 342.708 pounds of yarn and 288,972 square yards of piccegoods and made- ups of uncommitted quota for the export of restrained cotton textiles to the U.K. are available for application under the year-end special shipment scheme to be operated as from today,
He said that circulars on this subject have been despatched by the department to all com- panies,
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industrien, trade associations and quota holders,
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