•
of footwear to the 9 countries which now constitute the EEC
dropped from US£36.7 million in 1971 to $33.4 million in
1972 and $30.5 million in 1973. During the same period,
however, EEC imports from Spain, Yugoslavia, Pakistan, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore and Indonesia, among others,
increased substantially. Employment had dropped by half
by February 1974 from the 1971 level of 13,000. Hong Kong
seems to have been the only loser.
12.
Given these adverse conditions, and taking into account
the fact that negotiations will be held in the course of
this year to consider restraints on exports of textiles
from Hong Kong to the EEC (the bulk of which are already
subject to restraint), I hope your Government can agree that:
the continuation of discrimination against Hong Kong
textiles and footwear cannot be justified and should
(a)
(b)
(c)
be removed;
Hong Kong should be treated on an equal basis with
other beneficiaries as from 1st January 1975 as far as
textiles and footwear are concerned; and
any improvements to the scheme should not be at the
expense of other beneficiaries, which would be the
result if the Commission's proposals with regard to the
treatment of the so-called super-competitive suppliers
were introduced.
: