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Copy received
1738
3019
GR 275
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FM BTC HONG KONG 300627Z SEP 81
TO PRIORITY F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER BTC 119 OF 30 SEPTEMBER
FOR CLIFT, HONG KONG AND GENERAL DEPARTMENT
DOI INDUS TELNO 284 OF 25 SEPTEMBER TO ME
TO THE UK.
TAKK 12110
1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
0 1 OCT 1981
REGISTR
Action Tulu
INDEX
DESK OFFICER
CA V
PA
No
C.S.E
1/10
PHO
HONG KONG TV EXPORTS
ATKINSON'S DESCRIPTION OF HIS MINISTER'S INTENTIONS IGNORES THE
POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF PRESSING HONG KONG TO NEGOTIATE AN
INDUSTRY TO INDUSTRY AGREEMENT FOR THE RESTRICTION OF TV EXPORTS
TO THE UK WHICH WERE SET OUT IN MR BLAKER'S LETTER OF 10 APRIL TO
MR BAKER. DO I ASSUME ANY D.0.1. APPROACH TO THE HONG KONG GOVERN-
MENT HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND YOURSELVES.
2. FOR EXAMPLE THE BRIEF FOR SIR KEITH JOSEPH'S RECENT VISIT
REQUIRED HIM TO ADVOCATE AN AGREEMENT ON THE ORDERLY MARKETING OF
COLOUR TELEVISION SETS WITHOUT ANY INDICATION IN THE BACKGROUND
NOTE THAT SUCH A RESTRICTION WOULD RUN COUNTER TO HONG KONG'S
FREE MARKET PHILOSOPHY. MOREOVER THE LINE TO TAKE'' SOUNDED
OMINOUSLY SIMILAR TO THE ORIGINAL LINE ON TEXTILE QUOTAS.
(30
See
32
See
34
Seemiere 121/6
19/2
3. SIR KEITH JOSEPH WAS ALSO ADVISED TO SEEK FURTHER INFORMATION FROM THE HONG KONG CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES ABOUT THE TRANSSHIPMENT
OF TV SETS FROM TAIWAN INCLUDING THE NAMES OF THE MANUFACTURERS. I
SUGGEST THAT HONG KONG HAS GONE OUT OF ITS WAY TO PROVIDE US
WITH ADVANCE INFORMATION ON LICENCED RE-EXPORTS OF MONOCHROME TV
SETS. YET WE HAVE SEEN NO EVIDENCE OF ANY ACTION BEING TAKEN AT
THE UK END TO QUERY THE ORIGIN OF THESE TRANSSHIPPED SETS ON ARRIVAL AT A UK PORT, SURELY MORE INVESTIGATIONS ARE NEEDED BY DEPARTMENTS IN LONDON BEFORE ASKING HONG KONG TO BEGIN MONITORING ITS RE-EXPORT TRADE.
4. IN THE EVENT TIME DID NOT PERMIT SIR KEITH JOSEPH TO RAISE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS ISSUES DURING HIS VISIT. AS I HAVE SEEN NO EVIDENCE THAT THE DOI HAVE IN FACT SENT A TELEGRAM TO THE GOVERNOR,
I SHALL HOLD UP A REPLY TO ATKINSON PENDING YOUR RESPONSE.
MARCH
LIMITED
HK&GD
MR DONALD
16
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