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Cko Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong
Telegraphic Address:
會合聯商廠華中港香
群大會商駿五十六至四十六中道干港香:處事辦港香
撐大廈大行合聯國中七十六街老告亞能九:處事辦龍九
Hong Kong Office: C.M.A. Building, 64-65, Connaught Road. C.. Hong Kong.
"MAFTS" Hong Kong Kowloon Office: United Chinese Bank Bldg., 5th Fl., 67, Argyle St.. Mongkok, Kowloon.
Our Ret: 28/1/294/3
Your Ret:
Tel. H-456166 (5 lines) K-943939 & K-945115
11th September, 1970.
الله الحمد
7-70-5000 W.P.C.
The Rt. Hon. Geoffrey Rippon,
P.C., Q.C., M.P.
European Affairs Minister
U.K. Government
Your Honour,
I have the honour to extend, on behalf of the Chinese Manufacturers Association of Hong Kong, our warm welcome to Your Honour's visit to Hong Kong, and would like to take this opportunity to submit our views on the likely effects to Hong Kong economy on the issue of Britain's proposed entry into the EEC. I am aware that Your Honour would have acquired first-hand information from Government and other sources on Hong Kong's position whilst being here, but would nevertheless venture to express our concern on the matter.
Despite our diversification of markets in recent years, U.K. remains Hong Kong's second largest market. The abolition of Commonwealth Preference if and when Britain is admitted to EEC membership would greatly reduce the competitiveness of many of Hong Kong's manufactured exports in Britain, especially so while merchandise exported thereto from EEC and EFTA countries would, on the contrary, become duty free. It is important to note that exports of domestic products to Britain, although now decreasing to 14% of Hong Kong's total domestic exports, is representative of Hong Kong's major product lines, and this trade is providing employment to tens of thousands of industrial workers in view of the high labour content required to qualify for Commonwealth Preference Certificates. Any set-back in this market would therefore mean a serious blow to Hong Kong's economy with its grave consequences.
1
/The Association
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