11
Trade
Question:
Minister:
Question:
May I ask you two related questions on trade:
The British clothing industry, specifically the knitwear
sector is saying some very harsh things about imports
from Hong Kong. To what extent do you expect these views to be taken into account in formulating government policy.
The relevant fields are Ilong Kong vis-a-vis the E.E.C.
General Scheme of Preference, also the coming textile
negotiations with the E.E.C.?
I welcome that question. I want to give once more a full
assurance that the United Kingdom Government will continue
to exert its very best endeavours to protect and promote
Hong Kong trading interests specifically in the fields you
mentioned, General Scheme of Preference within E.E.C.
and also, of course, the G.A.T.T. round of negotiations.
You and I can go into much further detail, I know, but I
hope that is the assurance that your question sought.
Could I ask you briefly one related question? Britain has
untill 31st to exercise a certain prerogative on tariffs on
goods imported from Hong Kong under the General Scheme of
Preference, will this prerogative be exercised in our favour?
Minister: We shall use every prerogative and right we have within
1.B.C. to secure the very best bargain we can for Hong Kong
and any other territory which is in relation to the United
Kingdom, and also for ourselves, we're in the E.E.C., we
are also in re-negotiation with E.E.C. to adjust and
improve a number of conditions of membership, one of which -
one of the most important of which is the relationship
of the E.E.C. in the future with what I must call for lack
of a better name the dependencies of the past, which continue
in special relationships to us, and Hong Kong is certainly
one of the very, very most important of those.
/12.