TNAG-2978-FCO40-1470-Trade-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-UK-1982 — Page 29

(COVEIN MI

THOMPS OF PVC TO THE EK

few years the UK consumer electronics trade

ociation Radio

Imino.ri. Cannell, British Radio & Electronic Mal patent Hamfacturers Association

have exprersed increasing concern that Hong Hon was being used by Basi ery manufacturers of Lonociirote. "V sets es a means of by-pansing the volume mur export reci vaint agreements (Vic) that I had negotiated with their opp rito mmbers in, for example, Horen and Taiwan.

#

It is alleged that

vanwyn on

futurers in these countries were chippin sets to Hong Kong for trans-

shipwet na forumrding to the UK as Hong Bong white.

nation has been exacerbated by the recent co ncement (in April 1981) of the namfacture of ML colour Vs in Hong Kong. Until recently the PAL

in: licences granted to manufacturers located in countries using the mordeating standard limited exports to not more than 5% of production but with the recent expiry in such countries of ame of the critical patents on which 1. sences are based this regalation has now become virtually impossible to polier. tequently, it was decided to alloy unlimited exports from A tandard to all countelen except to Germany and to the UK for which I quotas would need bo la metot unbed. BREMA consider that long long (a PAL country) is likely to Become an increasingly important manufacturer of colour TVs and it was consequently decided to offer a total CTV quota for 1982 of 50,000 bets (exports to the Rin 1981 amounted to 20000 sets). Jeveral protests have been received about the "small" sizes of the constituent quotas offered to the individual manufac ers in Hong Kong. Indeed the largest company, Cony, have flatly refused to accept the quota offered to them of 22500 sets unless it has the backing of the UK dovernment. For their part Cony are demanding a quota of 50,000 for 1982 and there are indications that they wish to export double that mimbar in 1983.

The UK industry is concerned that if this demand for 1982 were grant ed other similar demands by other manufacturers world inevitably follow and exports from Hong Kong to the UK might amount to 100.000. The effect of such increases

DERRATEMY NAZARJLAW 4 Ba

1