Reference
essential feature of any recession clause.
Miss Wong said that she recognised
the balance of HK/UK trade was in HK's favour; but she hoped the mission would be successful in bringing home to UK industry as a whole, and particularly the textile industry, the importance of HK (the third largest market in Asia, and the most rapidly growing) as an export market for the UK. If UK exports to HK could be increased, the pressure for import controls might be reduced. Mr Parkinson assured her that the Government was convinced of the importance of HK, and took every opportunity to inform industry about it: interest in the colony was certainly growing. Summing up the discussion, Mr Cheong said that, although HK, like the UK, was still forming its views on the MFA renegotiation, some features were already clear: there should be no ill-defined clauses, like the "reasonable departures" protocol, which allowed the importers to act unilaterally against the exporters' interests; and HK's access rights should not be reduced. HK did look to HMG to represent its interests, and he hoped that HMG would take HK's views fully into account. After closing courtesies the meeting ended.
CODE 18-77
SS 8/73
1
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