London, June 23rd, 1977
llowing is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Textile and Apparel
Industries Delegation:
HONG KONG TEXTILE EXFORTERS
SEEK FAIRER TREATMENT IN U.K. AND E.C.C.
:
A delegation representing 13 textile and clothing manufacturers'
associations in Hong Kong today ended a short visit to London where they have been making representations to UK ministers and officials about the future of the Multi-Fibre Arrangement (MFA) and the bi- lateral restraint agreement which cover the bulk of Hong Kong's textile and clothing exports to the EEC.
These two.agreements expire at the end of this year, and Hong
Kong's textile and clothing industry is seriously concerned at the policies which are reportedly being pursued by the EEC and the UK Government for their renewal.
During its discussions in London the delegation has stressed
that the Hong Kong textile industry has always recognised the difficulties of its UK counterpart.
The delegation leader, Fr. Francis Tien, said in London today:
"Since 1959 when our exports of cotton textiles to the UK were first put under restraint on an industry-to-industry. basis,
Hong Kong has conceded more to the UK than it has to any other
importing country. Where cotton textiles were concerned, since
1959 the annual growth rates on restraint limits was only one per cent until 1972, when polyester/cotton textiles were also placed under restraint and the annual growth rate became two per cent.
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