TNAG-0385-FCO40-431-Trade-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-EEC-1974 — Page 28

HKGOL/ HK 001/05

PP HONGAID

GRPS 200

E LAIR

AC(C)

~EDECIUS

FM HONG KONG 050808Z

UNCLASSIFIED

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON TELNO L19 OF 5TH DECEMBER, 1973.

FOR SELLERS FROM MILLS.

PLEASE COMMUNICATE TEXT OF FOLLOWING LETTER FROM T.K. ANN TO JORDAN AND PASS OVER COPY TO WHITEHALL IF COPIES

OF OTHER SIMILAR LETTERS WERE COPIED DURING NOVEMBER 30 DISCUSSIONS.

BEGINS:

''DEAR SIR,

I REFER TO MY QUESTION AT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON THE EXCLUSION OF HONG KONG TEXTILES AND FOOTWEAR BY THE GENERALISED PREFERENCES SCHEMES OF THE EEC, AND TO YOUR REPLY THAT ''IT MUST BE LEFT TO HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT TO DECIDE ON THE TACTICS OF THE OPERATION''.

THE GENERALCOMMITTEE OF THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES NOTES THE EXPRESSED CONCERN OF HMG WITH REGARD TO THIS MATTER.

IT FEELS, HOWEVER, THAT IF GENUINE COGNIZANCE IS SHOWN BY HMG ABOUT THE SERIOUS ADVERSE IMPACT SUCH DISCRIMINATION IS HAVING ON HONG KONG, IS IS INCUMBENT ON HMG TO CONTINUE TO PRESS, WITHOUT DELAY, FOR THE INCLUSION OF HONG KONG'S TEXTILES AND FOOTWEAR UNDER THE GPS.

THE GENERAL COMMITTEE WISHES ALSO TO ASSOCIATE ITSELF WITH THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE TEN TEXTILE ORGANISATIONS, HEADED BY THE HONG KONG COTTON SPINNERS' ASSOCIATION, IN THE THEIR LETTER O YOU ON THE SUBJECT.

ENDS

MCANDI HONG

NNNN

SENT AT 0503242/05 EJH

HONGAID LONDON HX3380 1)9=34,4

YOURS FAITHFULLY

T.K. ANN

CHAIRMAN

FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES'.