TNAG-1054-FCO40-1304-Trade-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-UK-1981 — Page 16

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FM BTC HONG KONG 300627Z SEP 81

TO PRIORITY F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER BTC 119 OF 30 SEPTEMBER

FOR CLIFT, HONG KONG AND GENERAL DEPARTMENT

DOI INDUS TELNO 284 OF 25 SEPTEMBER TO ME

TO THE UK.

TAKK 12110

1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

0 1 OCT 1981

REGISTR

Action Tulu

INDEX

DESK OFFICER

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PA

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C.S.E

1/10

PHO

HONG KONG TV EXPORTS

ATKINSON'S DESCRIPTION OF HIS MINISTER'S INTENTIONS IGNORES THE

POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF PRESSING HONG KONG TO NEGOTIATE AN

INDUSTRY TO INDUSTRY AGREEMENT FOR THE RESTRICTION OF TV EXPORTS

TO THE UK WHICH WERE SET OUT IN MR BLAKER'S LETTER OF 10 APRIL TO

MR BAKER. DO I ASSUME ANY D.0.1. APPROACH TO THE HONG KONG GOVERN-

MENT HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND YOURSELVES.

2. FOR EXAMPLE THE BRIEF FOR SIR KEITH JOSEPH'S RECENT VISIT

REQUIRED HIM TO ADVOCATE AN AGREEMENT ON THE ORDERLY MARKETING OF

COLOUR TELEVISION SETS WITHOUT ANY INDICATION IN THE BACKGROUND

NOTE THAT SUCH A RESTRICTION WOULD RUN COUNTER TO HONG KONG'S

FREE MARKET PHILOSOPHY. MOREOVER THE LINE TO TAKE'' SOUNDED

OMINOUSLY SIMILAR TO THE ORIGINAL LINE ON TEXTILE QUOTAS.

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3. SIR KEITH JOSEPH WAS ALSO ADVISED TO SEEK FURTHER INFORMATION FROM THE HONG KONG CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES ABOUT THE TRANSSHIPMENT

OF TV SETS FROM TAIWAN INCLUDING THE NAMES OF THE MANUFACTURERS. I

SUGGEST THAT HONG KONG HAS GONE OUT OF ITS WAY TO PROVIDE US

WITH ADVANCE INFORMATION ON LICENCED RE-EXPORTS OF MONOCHROME TV

SETS. YET WE HAVE SEEN NO EVIDENCE OF ANY ACTION BEING TAKEN AT

THE UK END TO QUERY THE ORIGIN OF THESE TRANSSHIPPED SETS ON ARRIVAL AT A UK PORT, SURELY MORE INVESTIGATIONS ARE NEEDED BY DEPARTMENTS IN LONDON BEFORE ASKING HONG KONG TO BEGIN MONITORING ITS RE-EXPORT TRADE.

4. IN THE EVENT TIME DID NOT PERMIT SIR KEITH JOSEPH TO RAISE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS ISSUES DURING HIS VISIT. AS I HAVE SEEN NO EVIDENCE THAT THE DOI HAVE IN FACT SENT A TELEGRAM TO THE GOVERNOR,

I SHALL HOLD UP A REPLY TO ATKINSON PENDING YOUR RESPONSE.

MARCH

LIMITED

HK&GD

MR DONALD

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