I
Kong and Britain - Part
Hong
Three The Negotiators
WORLD trade
ORLD trade has expanded dur- ing the three post-war decades at a rate unprecedented in the pre- vious history of the human race.
Much of the impetus for growth has occurred through the co-operation of nations, through a rational approach to mutual problems, through a willingness to talk and to exercise at least a modi- cum of goodwill.
The machinery of trade growth has been the countless international agen- cies and 'talking shops' that have been established since 1945. The UNCTAD is one obvious example. The International Monetary Fund and World Bank are further examples. The GATT is of course another. And even those institutions that Hong Kong usually tends to regard as negative, such as the Long Term Agreement on textiles, nonetheless exemplify nations. coming together in an attempt to sort out problems, rather than just ignoring them or taking unilateral action.
Do we have a voice?
As the world's 17th largest exporter, Hong Kong clearly has a major stake in world trade. And more important- ly as an economy that is completely import-dependent, Hong Kong's very survival depends on a continuous smooth flow of trade between nations.
Given all this, Hong Kong may well be justified in believing that its own voice ought to be heard at the interna- tional conference table. Yet Hong Kong, because of its colonial status, is barred outright from the conference tables, or is permitted only to ‘observe' or otherwise participate on the fringes,
and, worst of all, is still subject to the pressure of larger groups in a very direct fashion should those larger groups decide it is in their own in- terests to negotiate a 'voluntary' agree-
ment.
Is that the real picture? It does of course contain an element of truth. But it is not true to say that Hong Kong's voice goes unheard; indeed, in many ways Hong Kong is in the for- tunate position of having access to many of the world's conference tables, without even the trouble of keeping a permanent seat warm, as it were at these tables.
Out-yet-in
A good example of Hong Kong's 'out-yet-in' position was the recent GATT conference in Tokyo. Hong Kong was present at this very directly via the person of the Director of Com- merce and Industry, Mr. David Jor- dan. Mr. Jordan addressed the con- ference and had every opportunity to make Hong Kong's position clear.
And this is typical of the way in which the negotiating link between Hong Kong and the UK often operates. When a set of negotiations occurs in which Hong Kong is involv- ed, the case put forward by the UK Government is either based on a brief from the Hong Kong Government, or else, as in Tokyo, is made by a Hong Kong man, for whom the UK dele- gate steps down. And in making its case, the Hong Kong government has access to UK Government intelligence on all levels.
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