(885363) Dd. 896639 1,000M 8/71 St.S.
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PRIVACY MARKING
DRAFT BRIEF
To:-
In Confidence
Department
BRIEF NO 2
SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG 2-3 NOVEMBER
1972
GENERAL
DEFENSIVE
TEXTILES
BRIEF
[mule
age]
POLYESTER COTTON TEXTILES
some
In early October Hong Kong reluctantly agreed
limiting to a voluntary restraint arrangement controlling
the Colony's export of polyester cotton textiles
to the United Kingdom. The agreement will run to
the end of 1976 (subject to review) and should will
provide the Hong Kong industry with adequate growth
prospects whilst at the same time giving the United
Kingdom industry the breathing space it requires.
Restraint became necessary owing to the rapidly
increasing penetration of the British market from
Far Eastern sources, which is having a serious effect
on employment opportunities and on our industry's
ability to achieve viable levels of production.
1971 developing countries supplied 47 per cent of our
imports of polyester/cotton fabrics (Hong Kong alone
supplied 42 per cent) and 85 per cent of our imports
of polyester/cotton garments (nearly all these came
from Hong Kong) Hitherto Britain was the only major
developed country with no import restrictions of any
kind on non-cotton textiles (except from Japan).
Arrangements to restrain these imports from the
sunsh
also
Republic of Korea and from Taiwan, are in train.
Taiwarn:
In
/COTTON
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