TNAG-1054-FCO40-1304-Trade-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-UK-1981 — Page 173

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RE-EXPORT STATISTICS FOR OTHE RADIO BROADCAST RECEIVERS›› HOW ONLY A FURTHER 2,424 SETS 7 ORTED TO THE UK. THESE ARC LISTED AS OTHER RADIO BROADCAST RECEIVERS (INCLUDING COMPITE SET OF HI-FI EQUIPMENT BUT EXCLUDING RECEIVERS INCORPORATIN... SOUND RECORDERS OF REPRODUCERS)''. BY CONTRAST, UK IMPORT FIGURES LISTED UNDER 8:15 1914, 1922, 1942 AND 1999 SHOW A FURTHER 161,313 SETS AS BEING IM, ORTED FROM HONG KONG. THEY SIMPLY DO NOT APPEAR IN THE HONG KONG STATISTICS EITHER AS EXPORTS OR

RE-EXPORTS.

2. THE DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMS AND I SUGGEST THAT THERE IS A PRIMA FACIE CASE OF MISREPRENTATION OF THE ORIGIN OF BOTH MONOCHROME TELEVISION RECEIVERS (PARAGRAPH 1(A) ABOVE) AND OTHER RADIO BROADCAST RECEIVERS, PARTICULARLY MUSIC CENTRES (PARAGRAPH 1(B) (111) ABOVE). IN THE FORMER CASE, IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT 23,784 SETS LISTED BY THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES AS BEING RE-EXPORTS (UNDERLINED) ARE ENTERING THE UK AS OF HONG KONG ORIGIN. IN THE LATTER CASE, THERE APPEAR TO BE OVER 160,000 SETS ENTERING THE UK AS HONG KONG EXPORTS WHICH DO NOT FIGURE IN THE COLONY'S TRADE STATISTICS. I SUGGEST THAT HM CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SHOULD BE ASKED TO INVESTIGATE THESE TWO AREAS AND SEND TO ME, (OR IF THEY PREFER, DIRECTLY TO THE DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMS) DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE OF CLAIMS TO HONG KONG CRIGIN OF SUCH IMPORTS SO THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS CAN PUN AN OFFICIAL CHECK AGAINST THE OUTPUT OF HONG KONG DOMESTIC PRODUCERS.

IT IS 3. AS YOU KNOW, I HAVE ARGUED FROM THE OUTSET THAT IMPOSSIBLE TO PRESENT A CASE ON BEHALF OF CRITISH INDUSTRY WHILE SO GREAT A DISCREPANCY EXISTS BETWEEN THE UK AND HONG KONG FIGURES. A FORMAL INVESTIGATION BY HA CUSTOMS MUST IN MY VIEW PRECCUE ANY FURTHER OFFICIAL APPCACH BY ME TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE ABOUT

PAST EXPORTS OF THESE ITEMS,

4. AS RICARDS THE FUTURE, THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY IS UNFORTUNATELY NOT YET READY TO DISCUSS LOCAL PLANS TO PRODUCE MONOCHROME AND COLOUR TELEVISION SETS, WHILE I SHALL CONTINUE TO MAKE ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE INTENTIONS OF FIRMS SUCH AS CONIC AND PROMOTERS LTD, LOCAL MANUFACTURERS ARE NATURALLY SUSPICIOUS OF OUR MOTIVEC AND DO NOT WELCOME ENQUIRIES BY TELEPHONE ABOUT THEIR MARKETING OBJECTIVES. HOWEVER I SUGGEST THAT AT THE MECTING OF THE CONGUMER ELECTRONICS SECTOR WORKING PARTY THE SECRETARY OF STATE NICHT SAY: ~

A) ANY REPRESENTATIONS TO THE W NG KONG GOVERNMENT ABOUT PAST SHIPMENTS OF TELEVISION SETS OR

GETS OR THER BEAN CAST RECEIVERS,

PRICA BA