446 hong kong legislative council — 30th July 1969.
Oral Answers
MR D. H. JORDAN:-Yes, Sir, the Hong Kong Government did make representations to the British Government on the Textile Council's Report. I held two meetings of the Textile Advisory Board on 15 and 18 July. We had previously prepared in the Commerce and Industry, Department a preliminary assessment of the effects of the tariff recom- mendation and had asked the members of the Board to consult the textile trade associations.
In the light of the comments put forward by the Board at these meetings the Government conveyed its representations on the matter to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, immediately after the meeting of 18 July.
DR CHUNG:-Si, why did we make the representation so late?
MR JORDAN --Sir, we had been studying the Textile Council's Report--it is fairly bulky document for some time and we had sent some preliminary comments to the British Government. Our London Office had also taken every opportunity to draw attention to what we believe to be the gaps and weaknesses in the Textile Council's arguments but we did not expect that the decision would be made so suddenly.
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STATEMENT
The Colonial Sherbtary (Sir Hugh Norman-Walker):-- Sir, in answering a question in this Council on the 2nd July* I said that the Government had the question of immigration control under review. This was very much the truth, and in fact the review had got to a stage where the conclusion had been reached by the Governor in Council that it was necessary to introduce additional controls,
It is in such matters usually undesirable for obvious reasons that an administration should give long notice of its intention to imposo restrictions, and I had not intended to make a public statement in the matter until the necessary amending bill was ready for presentation to this Council in a fortnight's time. However speculation on Govern- ment's intentions has appeared in the press, and inevitably in the absence of an authoritative statement Clovernment's intentions may be oxaggerated or their motives misunderstood, In these circumstances I have agreed with my Collengue, the Honourable Mr Y. K. Kan, that it would be appropriate for me to make a statement today,
* Page 403.
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