CONFIDENTIAL
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 794 TO FCO
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9. A NEW ISSUE OF PRINCIPLE WOULD THEREFORE DE INVOLVED.
10. IN THE LIGHT OF THE FOREGOING, THE H.K. GOVERNMENT SEES
NO GOOD GROUNDS AT THIS TIME FOR THE DEROGATION FROM ITS GATT
RIGHTS THAT WOULD BE IMPLIED BY ACCEPTANCE OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT'S
PROPOSAL TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS FOR A COMPREHENSIVE BILATERAL
AGREEMENT ON MAN-MADE AND WOOLLEN FIBRE TEXTILES.
11. HOWEVER, THE H.K. GOVERNMENT IS ALWAYS PREPARED TO ENTER
INTO CONSULTATIONS ON REQUEST BY ANY CONTRACTING PARTY TO THE
GATT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS OBLIGATION, UNDER ARTICLE XX!!
OF THE GATT, TO GIVE SYMPATHETIC CONSIDERATION TO''''SUCH
REPRESENTATIONS AS MAY BE MADE BY ANOTHER CONTRACTING PARTY WITH
RESPECT TO ANY MATTER AFFECTING THE OPERATION OF THE GENERAL
AGREEMENT''
12.IN PARTICULAR THE HONG KONG (GP OMIT. ?GOVT.IS PREPARED TO ENKER INTO SUCH
CONSULTATIONS WHERE INCREASING IMPORTS FROM HONG KONG OF PARTICULAR
NON-COTTON-TEXTILES OR GARMENT ITEMS ARE CAUSING OR THREATENING
SERIOUS INJURY TO DOMESTIC PRODUCERS OF THE LIKE OR DIRECTLY
COMPETITIVE PRODUCTS.
13. CONSEQUENTLY, WHILE IN THE LIGHT OF PARAGRAPH 11, THE H.K.
GOVERNMENT IS, OF COURSE, PREPARED TO RESUME THE EARLIER INFORMAL
DISCUSSIONS OF THE GENERAL SITUATION, IT BELIEVES THAT IT WOULD
BE MORE APPROPRIATE IF SUCH DISCUSSIONS WERE RELATED TO ANY
PARTICULAR MAN-MADE OR WOOLLEN FIBRE PRODUCTS THAT THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT BELIEVES TO BE CAUSING OR THREATENING TO CAUSE
/SERIOUS
CONFIDENTIAL