TNAG-0044-FCO40-80-Exports-to-the-Benelux-countries-aide-memoires-1967 — Page 127

0003230

G.F. 323

CONFIDENTIAL

· 8-

38.

Mr. Verhagen then offered the following data on Hong Kong's position as a supplier to the Benelux market

Nightwear imports from Hong Kong

1965

1966

650 tons

1,100 tons

Nightwear (men's and boys')

1965

1966

15% of total imports

3% of total consumption

22% of total imports

8% of total consumption

Nightwear (women's, girls' and infants')

1965

1966

Handkerchiefs

1966

13% of total imports

3% of total consumption

24% of total imports:

6% of total consumption

10% of total imports

first four

months of

1967.

3% of total consumption

37% of total imports

10% of total consumption

Bed-linen of non-terry cloth

1966

first four

months of

1967

61% of total imports

3% of total consumption

61% of total imports

3% of total consumption

Household linen of terry cloth

1965

1966

109 tons

236 tons

38% of total imports

5% of total consumption

He emphasised that the market could be depressed even by small quantities if these entered at low prices. The average c.i.f. prices a kilogram for non-terry bed-linen from Hong Kong were

1965

1966

8.20 guilders (44 tons imported)

7.97 guilders

(202 tons imported)

Prices were tending to fall and were low in relation to many suppliers.

39.. Mr. Haddon-Cave conceded that Hong Kong's role was not unimportant in the import market but pointed out that Hong Kong had only just maintained the level of exports of bed-linen. He asked if

/the

CONFIDENTIAL