TNAG-0939-FCO40-1158-Visit-of-John-Nott--Secretary-of-State-for-Trade--to-Hong-Ko-1981 — Page 61

Textile Mission 1980 to Hong Kong

Report by mission members

Members of the team

Mr L Regan

Mr R F Audsley

President of Carrington Viyella Ltd

Chairman of the British Textile Confederation

Chairman, Tootal Ltd

Representative of the British Textile Employers Association on the Council of British Textile Confederation.

Mr J Harrison

Chairman of Johnstons of Elgin

Mr E K Wilson

Chairman of the Far East Promotion Panel of the National Wool Textile Export Corporation

President of National Association of Scottish Woollen Manufacturers Committee Member of Wool Textile EDC

Director of Allied Textiles Ltd

Chief Executive, HS Hartley Ltd

Mr A Nightingale Director, Courtaulds Ltd

Mr H Gibson

General President, National Union of Hosiery and Knitwear Workers.

1 There is no doubt that the consensus of opinion held by members of Textile Mission '80 is that the visit was well timed for a wide exchange of views, bearing in mind the forthcoming renegotiation of the Multi-Fibre Agreement (MFA), and also that the mission was extremely successful in that it gave a unique opportunity to study the market and to generate goodwill on both sides.

2 It was appropriate that the Hong Kong textile and clothing manufacturers should be reminded that 1.8 per cent of their purchases of raw material and fabric are sourced from the UK whilst at the same time they are assured of a guaranteed market in the UK for their products.

3 The mission was accorded the facility to discuss in depth with the Hong Kong manufacturers the opportunities which the UK may have to participate in the move up market by Hong Kong manufacturers, which is a well established trend.

4 It must be said, however, that these discussions showed that this move up market, in so far as UK supply is concerned, gave little scope for participation since the major effort so far has been in garment styling rather than the use of more sophisticated and higher quality fabrics. It may be that, in the longer term, Hong Kong will have to look for the supply of such higher quality fabrics.

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