APPOINTMENT OF A SELECT COMMITTEE IN HONG KONG
This is a matter for my right honourable Friend, the Lord President
of the Council. I understand that he will be answering a Question
about is very shortly, (Mr Hooley's on 19 February).
TEXTILES
TEXTILE TRADE WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM
Hong Kong textile imports into the United Kingdom are regulated
by the EEC/Hong Kong Textiles Agreement concluded last year as part
of the GATT Multi-Fibre Arrangement. This agreement provides for
restraints to be extended to knitted textiles and garments which were
not previously restricted in the United Kingdom market.
GROWTH OF IMPORTS OF TEXTILES FROM HONG KONG
An important element in the EEC/Hong Kong Textiles Agreement
is that other Member States of the Community will take a greater
proportion of the growth of Hong Kong textile exports than in the past
and the United Kingdom correspondingly less. The average rate of
growth for the Community as a whole is 7%. For the United Kingdom it
is 2% with growth rates as low as 1% for the most sensitive items.
IMPORT CONTROLS IN TEXTILES FROM HONG KONG
Her
Textile imports from Hong Kong into this country are already
subject to control under the EEC/Hong Kong Textiles Agreement.
Majesty's Government's general views on import controls were
explained to the House by my right honourable Friend, the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, on 17 December 1975.
REPRESENTATIONS FROM THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY IN THE "NITED KINGDOM
(If pressed) As my right honourable Friend, the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, said on 17 December 1975 on the general question
of import restrictions, we are prepared to consider imposing temporary
controls on imports in cases where sectors of industry, which would
be perfectly viable in normall times, are threatened with extinction
by excessive imports during the recession.
/UNITED KINGDOM
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