TNAG-0157-FCO40-193-Export-of-textiles-to-Greece-1969 — Page 5

DES AFFAIRES ETRANGERES

No. F11/2XK-14

NOTE

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VERBALE

19/2

The Royal Ministry for Foreign Affaires present their compliments to Her Majesty's Embassy and referring to the latter's notes No 8 of January 17, 1969, and No. 68 of April 21, 1969, on the

subject of the action taken by the Greek Government to restrict the

import of textiles from Hong-Kong, have the honour to state the

following:

1)

}

11)

General regulation have brought under customs control a certain number of cotton fabrics imported from Asiatic countries, including Hong-Kong, to Greece. The control in question excludes from the schedule of imports certain cotton fabrics

liable to the provision of Customs Tariff 55.08.09, as these

textiles, produced in sufficient quantities in Greece, meet

with the needs of the country.

Particularly, as far as Hong-Kong is concerned, it should be taken into account the fact that compared to the very small exports of Greek products to that country, (not exceeding

30.000 per annum), Greece imports goods amounting approxi- mately to 1.700.000 annually.

Fabrics occupy a prominent place among the goods imported from Hong-Kong. In 1967 imports amounted to 256.000 and from January to November 1968 (11 months) amounted to $ 290.000.

These figures include cotton fabrics and textiles amounting to 139.000 and 156.000 respectively.

It is to be noted that in 1968, the imports licences granted

for weaving and spinning yarns and textiles from Hong-Kong,

amounted to % 637.000. More than half of these imports refer to cotton fabrics or cotton articles. Therefore, it appears

that the application of the Custom control on certain cotton

fabrics imported from a particular area does not actually

affect the export of textiles from Hong-Kong to Greece.

The Ministry wishes to point out that the assurances given by the Hong-Kong authorities in connection to the Greek Government' desire to ensure that prohibited imports of textiles from other countries as of Hong-Kong origin, have been noted with satisfacti