TNAG-0845-FCO40-1055-Visits-of-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 40

arrangements which were in prospect for imports into the EEC

countries from the Mediterranean countries and therefore the

increase in textile imports into the EEC from those countries

will be less.

The increase in imports will be less than it would otherwise

have been, I know that this is a matter of concern to people in

Hong Kong and we shall bear this concern very much in mind. What I

would like to say in addition is really two things, that the

British Government has a great deal to promote Hong Kong's interest

in the trade field through its embassies abroad.

We really work very hard on that matter. But I would like to add

this, that the new British Government will be aiming, as one of

its main objectives, to make the British industry, to encourage

British industry to become more athletic, if I can put it that

way, more vigorous, more responsive to change and this and our

desire for... to encourage the freedom of international trade

because we recognise that in Britain that is very much in our

interest in general should in due course improve access for goods

from Hong Kong and other countries in Asia and developing countries

around the world to the United Kingdom and indeed I would hope

through the influence we can exert to the EEC.

Question: Your noted predecessor, Lord Goronwy-Roberts was, as one can say,

experimenting with the notion that Hong Kong should have to pay,

highly

should be more/taxed to have a greater volume of social services.

The point, I gather is that he wished to see the Hong Kong budget

before it was delivered. Is it your intention to pursue a similar

policy? Or do you think that it would not be necessary in future

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... to have