CONFIDENTIAL
機密
Notes on meeting of Members of Urban Council with Mr. Richard Clift, Head of the Hong Kong and General Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, at the Urban Council Chambers
on Wednesday, 13th May 1981 at 10.30 a.m.
The Chairman welcomed Mr. Clift to the meeting. Mr. Clift said how pleased he was to meet Members again. It was like meeting old friends. He congratulated the Chairman on his recent assumption of his post.
Multi Fibre Arrangements (MFA)
2.
Mr. Stephen Lau said that the MFA would expire at the end of 1981 and together with Bi-lateral Quota Arrangements even the present position had meant that reduction in Hong Kong quotas had largely been taken up by developing countries or more recently by developed countries. More than half a million people work in Hong Kong textile industry and any deterioration in the present quota arrangements could injure Hong Kong quite severely.
3.
Mr. Clift said that re-negotiation of the MFA would probably start towards the end of summer. He could make no statement on the British Government position. It had not been finalized and would have to be discussed with the community. The British Government would however take the Hong Kong position fully into account. Speaking personally, Mr. Clift said that he thought it helpful to make clear in Britain that Hong Kong and Britain were not simply rivals. Hong Kong had an open market and there were opportunities for British manufacturers to sell in Hong Kong. He considered that co-operation should be fostered.
4.
Mr. Howard Young considered that the imposition of Global quotas would result in there being little stability in the market, little possibility to plan ahead, and advantages to producers who had Government subsidized export. Mr. Clift said that these points would be taken into account by the British Government.
CONFIDENTIAL
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機密
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