TNAG-0304-FCO40-340-Effects-of-tariffs-on-imports-of-cotton-textiles-to-UK-from--1971 — Page 86

1

12

FURTHER TALKS ON U.K. TEXTILE TARIFF

To Be Held In London Next Month

********

Deucmuch

ورا

161/2

The British Government will give further consideration to ways

and means of alleviating the new situation in which the Hong Kong textile

industry now finds itself.

The Financial Secretary, the Hon. C.P. Haddon-Cave, stated this

today in the Legislative Council.

"Further talks are to be held in London in the week beginning

January 10, 1972," he added.

He was replying to the Hon. T.K. Ann who had asked whether Government

would ask the U.K. Government for a temporary tariff relief for the period

prior to her entry into the European Economic Community.

Mr. Haddon-cave said that during his talks in London on December 6

and 7 with Ministers and officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

and the Department of Trade and Industry, he had formally requested on

behalf of the Hong Kong Government that the new tariff on imports of cotton

yarn and woven cotton textiles from Commonwealth countries should only be

imposed by stages.

He suggested that that could best be done in accordance with the timetable agreed with the European Economic Community for the gradual imposition of

tariffs on industrial products from the Commonwealth during the transitional

period after Britain's entry.

The British Government informed him that it was impossible to

introduce the new tariff by stages or defer it because the Order to impose

it had already been made and laid before Parliament and that there would be

insuperable difficulties of a political, legislative and practical nature

in now modifying or rescinding this order, he said.

/Mr. Haddon-cave