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The Star - 8/2/71

QUOTAS "KILLING"HK TEXTILES

RITAIN's last-minute decision to re-impose

BRIT

quotas on Hongkong textiles will cause more factories to close down here and put workers out of their jobs, a prominent textiles figure said today.

In a titing attack on British Government's about-face on tactics, Mr Francis Tien, Chairman of the long- kong Garment Manu- facturers' Association said:

"It is obvious Bri- tain is 'killing' Hong- kong industry through a wrong decision.

"They are treating us like strangers.

"We will not accept their move, and intend to protest strongly to Britain to try to have it raversed.”

Mr Tien said olber countries would follow Britain's move and fur- ther tighten restric- tions against Hongkong.

He said the historic friendship and close re- lationship between Hongkong and Britain

had been "spoilt" by the shook move,

"Why must we help Britain, specially with defence costs?' be ask-

ed.

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He urged that bi future, when Hritain requested something from Hong- kong, we should treat their request in the same manner as Bri- tain was now treating Hongkong.