TNAG-0304-FCO40-340-Effects-of-tariffs-on-imports-of-cotton-textiles-to-UK-from--1971 — Page 10

Firstly, the unemployment in Britain and the close-down of the textile mills are not due to. the imports of Hong Kong textile products to Britain. All these are the consequences of the backwardness of British industrial and trade policies. The lack of incentiveness to work hard and the non-productive British are also the contributory factors. If Britain does not reform her policy, even the lives of the four million people of Hong Kong are sacrificed, she cannot recover from the depression.

Secondly, Hong Kong is a British Colony and it is different from other Asian countries. If the British wish to continue obtaining more profits from Hong Kong, they should not put an end to Hong Kong's textile industry. In handling the textile matter, Britain cannot treat Hong Kong as equals to Asian countries.

Thirdly, the statement that "efficient producers will be able to sell profitably to the United Kingdom" is a lie. The people of Hong Kong would absolutely not accept the lie.

To sum up, Britain's combination of quota and tariff policy on Hong Kong textiles is an unreasonable action. The British Government should understand that if Hong Kong suffers from these measure, Britain would not benefit either. To consolidate the co-operation between Hong Kong and Britain and to seek for the benefits on both parties, we must continue to oppose Britain's unreasonable measures. With sensible reasoning and action we urge the British Government to change her unreasonable policy on Hong Kong textiles automatically.

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