CODE 18-77
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Reference...
76(a)
PUES(T) ON NO 408
NOTE OF MR MEACHER'S MEETING WINI REFRESEITATIVES OF THE HONG KONG TEXTILE AND CLOTHING INDUSTRY :23 JUNE
Present:
Mr Meacher
Mr Roberts
Me Ashwood
Fr Lougheed Mr Comfort
Mr Tien OBE, Chairman, Hong Garment Menufacturers
Association.
Mr Chen, Hong Kong Cotton Spinners Association. Mr Kung-shing, President, Federation of Hong
Kong Garment Manufacturers.
Mr Lai, Vice Chairman, Federation of Hong Kong
Cotton Weavers.
Fr Sai-yen, Chairman, Hong Kong Weaving Mills
Association.
Mr Tan Tit-Fung, Chairman, Hong Kong Chinese
Textile Mills Association.
Mr Kim Ping, Chairman, Hong Kong Cotton Made-Up
Goods Manufacturers Association Ltd.
Mr Lin, Chairman, Hong Kong Knitwear Exporters
and Manufacturers Association Itd.
Fr Lu, Vice-Chairman, Hong Kong Woolland
Synethetic Spinners Association Ltd.
Mr Shai-nce, Chairman, Hong Kong Printers and
Dyers Association.
I
Leung, Vice-Chairman, Hong Kong Woollen and Synthetic Knitting Manufacturers Association Itä.
Ir Chung, Secretary.
After opening courtesies, In Tien presented a Statement to Mr Meacher (copy annexed) which explained their concern over the reported stance which the EEC was adopting prior to the re-negotiation of the MFA. It was feared that the new TA would be more restrictive with conseruent effects on the whole Hong Kong economy as the textile industry represented almost half of total industrial production. In subseruent discussions members of the delegation emphasised that although the value of their exports had increased annually, in volume terms exports had decreased, the decline being most apparent in the nitting, spinning and weaving sectors. Although exports to the United Kingdom had been high, a significant proportion of their textile making machinery was purchased from Britain. In their view, the UK textile industry had recently shown signs of revival with a significant growth in exports; the major UK textile concerns had recently shown improved profits. Mr Tien said the special relationship with the UK was important to both sides and that they wanted t co-operate with British industry, and continue to export on a competitive basis. He hoped that long Kong's interest would be borne in mind by HIG during the renegotiation of the IFA.
Mr Meacher said that the Hong Kong delegation had left him in no doubt about their
concern over the re-negotiation of the IFA. He understood their present difficulties and noted that these
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