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HKK 6/3
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HONG KONG STANDARD OCT÷5K===73
Royle promises all help
on threat from EEC
NEW UK
ASSURANCE
ON TARIFF
SINGAPORE, Thurs. Britain today pledged to help Hongkong "as much as we possibly can" in the face of a European Economic Community tariff scheme which threatens the Colony's lucrative textile and footwear industries.
This was stated by Mr Anthony Royle, Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs, at the conference being held here on Business Opportunities in the Pacific Basin.
"We in Britain are very much aware of this situation" Mr Royle declared in reply to a pointed question from the floor, "Britain has always tried to look after Hongkong interests in EEC negotiations and we will help as much as we possibly can in this case.”
Mr Royle did not elaborate on what Britain proposes to do to help avert a threat that has' ermused [ considerable concern in high level industrial commercial and government circles in the Colony.
The EEC plan, scheduled to go into effect in January, will offor proferentlal tariff facilities in Britain for textile and footwear products from Hongkong's major manufacturing competitors in Asia
such as South Korea but will deny these facilities to the Colony.
An exclusive report in the Standard last week quoted highlevel Hongkong sources as saying the EEC scheme would hamper the HK$1,500 million textile and footwear exports to Britain and endanger the livelihood of 250,000 workers' employed in the two industries. Mr Royle today described Hongkong as "Britain's pentest showcase” in Asia and said the Colony "prospers and will continue to prosper for many years to come.
•
Special to the Standard
"Where else can you find such a successful instance of British leadership and Chinese enterprise?" he asked about 550 international delegates gathered for the final day of the conference. "Hongkong is something Britain is proud of."
He said the biggest problem facing the Colony was the need | to broaden the industrial base of
its economy while facing up to towing competition from other
countries in the area.
He also noted some people in Britain felt nervous about the threat of Hongkong's competition at home and the Colony would need to use all its skills to overcome these pressures.
In a speech entitled "Britain and the Pacific" Mr Royle denied Britain was abandoning Asia for the European economic community.
"We're sometimes told that by entry into Europe we're lessening our interests elsewhere," he said.
Denying this he claimed: "Our membership in the EEC gives us a greater ability to expand our traditional overseas markets.
Given the strong base of the ERC's potential market of 200 million people, Britain's ability to compete effectively in overseas markets would be greatly enhanced.,
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