OVERALL
TEXTILES
(INCLUDING GARMENTS)
CONFIDENTIAL
-2-
1958
1963
1969
100
143
231
100
142
222
SINCE, AS FAR AS WE KNOW, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNIONS HAVE NOT VISITED HONG KONG IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THESE FIGURES SHOULD DO
MUCH TO DISCOUNT ANY FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE THEY MAY TRY TO PRESS.
4. APART FROM WAGES, THERE HAVE BEEN SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS IN OTHER WORKING CONDITIONS IN THE INDUSTRY. IN THE USE OF THESE, TOO, ACCESS TO FOREIGN MARKETS IS THE ESSENTIAL PRE-CONDITION OF ADVANCE FOR HONG KONG LABOUR. YOU MIGHT ASK IF IT WAS THERE VIEW
THAT HONG KONG MANUFACTURES SHOULD BE ALLOWED ACCESS TO THE US
MARKET ONLY UNDER CONDITIONS WHICH MADE THEM UNCOMPETITIVE- WITH
ALL THE CONSEQUENCES FOR LABOUR CONDITIONS.
5. IT IS ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE WEAKNESS OF THE INJURY'
CLAIMS COULD BE A MORE EFFECTIVE LINE TO TAKE THAN THE WIDER ISSUE OF THE DANGERS OF RESTRAINT REFERRED TO IN YOUR PARAGRAPH 3. LABOUR COUNSELLOR COULD DEMONSTRATE THAT HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
IS WELL AWARE THAT IMPORTS FROM HONG KONG CANNOT POSSIBLY BE
CAUSING INJURY TO US TEXTILE AND GARMENT INDUSTRY GENERALLY.
IF THEY CLAIM INJURY IN PARTICULAR SECTORS THEY COULD BE REMINDED THAT THE US GOVERNMENT HAS REJECTED THE SELECTIVE APPROACH
CONFIDENTIAL
/AND
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