TNAG-0465-FCO40-530-Entitlement-of-Hong-Kong-to-EEC-Generalised-Scheme-of-Prefer-1974 — Page 42

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6. WHILE I KNOW SOME OF THE MANUFACTURING UNITS IN THE REPUBLIC'S

FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY ARE IN DIFFICULTY, SOME UNITS AT ANY RATE APPEAR

TO BE PROSPERING. I NOTE THAT IN 1973 THE INDUSTRY WAS ABLE TO

EXPORT FOOTWEAR TO A VALUE OF £3.2 MILLION (OF WHICH £3.7 MILLION WENT TO THE UK), AND THAT IN THE PERIOD JANUARY TO APRIL 1974, THE REPUBLIC'S FOOTWEAR EXPORTS WERE SOME 445 HIGHER (AT £3.4 MILLION

THAN IN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF 1973. IN COMPARISON WITH THESE

FIGURES THE VALUE OF FOOTWEAR IMPORTS FROM HONG KONG LAST YEAR

APPEARS INDEED TO BE NEGLIGIBLE. AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE FIGURES MENTIONED EARLIER IN THIS LETTER, THE SIZE

OF ANY PROBLEM THAT ACCEPTANCE OF THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION

REGARDING HONG KONG FOOTWEAR COULD POSE FOR THE INDUSTRY SEEMS TO

US TO BE OF VERY SMALL PROPORTIONS. INDEED.

7. YOU KINDLY UNDERTOOK TO PUT THESE ARGUMENTS BEFORE YOUR MINISTER,

MY GOVT VERY MUCH HOPES THAT THE IRISH GOVT WILL AGREE TO LIFT

THEIR RESERVE ON THE INCLUSION OF HONG KONG FOOTWEAR IN THE GSP

AT THE COUNCIL OF FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING ON 12 NOVEMBER..

I AM SENDING A COPY OF THIS LETTER TO MR O'CEALLAIGH IN THE DEPT

OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

ENDS

GALSWORTHY

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC FILES DISTRIBUTION

EID

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION

FRAME

RID

HKIOD

FED

SIR O WRIGHT

SIR D WATSON

MR WILFORD MK MALE

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