fil Nov Informed May Grew of correct contact in Hit. She is going to write
• copy usin
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POB 30/4
Mr E Whitehorn
Head, CP5
Office of Fair Trading
Field House Breams Buildings
London
EC4A 1PR HKB 121/10
RECEIVED IN YEGISTRY
2 MAY
for Whitrey,
Draft reply p (1 shd, think the answer to 'x' is ' 'yes' 28/4
Was Barneh
such
I am not aware of
am
my
here a ward
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Department of Trade and Industry
Kingsgate House
66-74 Victoria Street
London SW1E 6SW
Enquiries
DESK OFFIC..?
REGISTRY
INDEX
Offiskation. Pls would
ym
PA
Action Takep Juan Corey
to see of the is and
071-215 5000
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Telex
8813148 DIHQ G
Fax
071-931 0397
Direct line 071-215 4611
Our ref NL 4707
Your ref
Date 26th April 1993
mes to the bus if tk, I think it
NOTI
would be wise for with advise ukl
of this mother the
be
appropriate person
Dear Mr. Whitehorses. In 20/4.
he the Secretary for Exenomic
US ANTI-TRUST NOTIFICATION: PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF MAJORITY SHARE IN G.M. PFAFF AG (GERMANY) BY SEMI-TECH (GLOBAL) CO. LTD.
(HONG KONG)
I attach a notification from the US Embassy made in accordance with the 1986 OECD recommendation on notification of restrictive business practices investigations. This gives notice of an investigation by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) into the proposed acquisition of 51% of G.M. Pfaff, a German company, by Semi-Tech of Hong Kong.
This notification is a little unusual in two ways. Firstly, neither of the companies involved is based in the US - although both have US subsidiaries; and secondly, there is no direct connection to the UK. We have presumably been notified of the FTC investigation because of the UK's responsibility for Hong Kong's external relations.
I would be grateful for advice from you and Ms Turners' on whether we (or the Commission) have any interest in this proposed merger; and also, either from you or from Mr Cox, on whether Hong Kong has its own competition legislation. Would Mr Cox also consider, please, if it would be appropriate to write to the Hong Kong Government in order to notify them of our views on such investigations, and, if so, to whom we should write.
We will be seeking an undertaking from the US authorities that any information requested from Semi-Tech will be on a strictly voluntary basis. This not clear from the letter.
Mr whimney I've checked there laws - nothing & Shelagh Brooks & HAGO could not help either
ð
cft saua
have abo spoken to DTICOT2 knew nothing & tk cos, i3 they rarely comment on nonfications unless one under invoongation.) I think we should fax Ik HKG
r check with
Ik Sec.
a to inform him generally.
MOB.
legal adviser re
.
parallel legislation
for Economic Service's on whether thy have any interest in Jemi Tech.
dti
28 ·4
the department for Enterprise
Recycled Paper