TNAG-0244-FCO40-280-Exports-of-textiles-from-Hong-Kong-to-USA-1970 — Page 84

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had said, in Hong Kong in May that the U.S. market could

absorb the imports of 1968 but could not face a similar

growth rate of imports in future years. The U.S. Government

was seeking a moderation in the rate of growth of imports,

not a cut-back. A large part of the U.S. textile industry

was being disrupted now and the U.S. Government saw a

real threat ahead for all sectors of the industry.

11.

Mr. Jones referring back to Mr. Nehmer's statement

that Hong Kong was the second largest supplier of textiles

to the U.S. pointed out that this was due to the very large

proportion of cotton textiles (already under restraint) in

Hong Kong's exports; in man made fibres Hong Kong was only the

5th or 6th largest supplier. Mr. Nehmer said that measuring

in equivalent square yards and based on the first seven

months of 1969, Hong Kong was the largest supplier of cotton

textiles, the second largest supplier of woollen textiles,

and the fifth largest in man made fibre textiles.

In value

terms, for the same period, Hong Kong was the second largest

supplier of cotton, the second largest for wool and the third

largest for man made fibre textiles.

12.

Sir Lugene Melville said that whatever the

position of Hong Kong, total imports represented a very

small portion of U.S. production and consumption.

He

thought that the figures adduced so far were not sufficiently

illustrative of disruption or a threat thereof and he

/expressed

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