XN000022-1975-10-08 — Page 19

...

18.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1975

ON HONG KONG'S OVERSEAS TRADE PROMOTIONS AND NEGOTIATIONS, SIR MURRAY POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT NOW HAS IN PRACTICE COMPLETE AUTONOMY WHEN DEALING WITH MATTERS AT ISSUE, IN THE WAY IT BELIEVES TO BE IN HONG KONG'S BEST TRADING INTERESTS, WHILE BRITISH EMBASSIES AND DELEGATIONS GIVE INVARIABLE AND INVALUABLE HELP.

SIR MURRAY SAID THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL HAS IN THE CURRENT YEAR FOCUSSED ITS PROGRAMMES ON THE OIL-PRODUCING COUNTRIES, EASTERN EUROPE AND FRANCE WHICH ARE AREAS OF POTENTIAL TRADE GROWTH. HE PAID TRIBUTE TO SIR YUET-KEUNG KAN, THE COUNCIL'S OUT-GOING CHAIRMAN, FOR HIS NOTABLE PERSONAL SUCCESS IN FRANCE.

AS TO THE ROLE OF THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HONG KONG'S GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT TRADING RELATIONS, SIR MURRAY SAID IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY COMPLEX AS OUR TRADE EXPANDED AND HAS BEEN MADE INFINITELY MORE DIFFICULT BY THE WORLD RECESSION.

SINCE HONG KONG BELIEVES IN FREE TRADE, SIR MURRAY SAID, THERE IS FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW, NO SUCH THING AS A GOOD AGREEMENT, BECAUSE ALL THE AGREEMENTS WE ARE OBLIGED TO NEGOTIATE ARE RESTRICTIVE.

HE SAID THAT HOWEVER ON THE WHOLE HONG KONG HAS SUCCEEDED IN SECURING UNDER THESE AGREEMENTS GROWING ACCESS TO A FAIR SHARE OF THE MARKET AND HE THOUGHT THAT WHEN THE DUST HAS SETTLED+, HONG KONG'S AGREEMENT WITH THE EEC WILL BE RECOGNISED TO REPRESENT NOT SUCH A BAD DEAL AFTER ALL.

SIR MURRAY SAID HE WANTED TO RECORD HIS ADMIRATION FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE ENGAGED IN OUR INDUSTRY AND FINANCIAL SERVICES FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD TO THE MEN AND WOMEN ON THE PRODUCTION LINE AND THE CLERKS IN THE OFFICE, FOR THEIR ENTERPRISE, RESOURCEFULNESS, EFFICIENCY AND PLAIN HARD WORK ON WHICH OUR PROSPERITY WILL ALWAYS DEPEND.

/19