4.
CONFIDENTIAL
2
I AGREE AND AMGRATEFUL FOR YOUR PROPOSAL TO APPROACH HOWARTH
ON A PERSONAL BASIS. IF YOU CAN EMPLOY THEM WITHOUT COMPROMISING
YOUP WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS' STATUS, THE FOLLOWING SUPPLEMENTARY
POINTS MAY BE USEFUL:
COMP
(A) DESPITE THE COMPLAINTS OF HONG KONG FIRMS OVER THE PEREMPTORY
TONE OF AND CONFIDENTIAL NATURE OF THE INFORMATION REQUESTED
IN THE D..R. LETTERS IN 1968 RELATED TO THE CUSTOMS
ENQUIRY, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPT ADVISED THEM TO COOPERATE
AND OFFERED DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO THE CUSTOMS OFFICIAL CONCERNED.
WHEN HE VISITED HONG KONG HE CHOSE NOT TO ACCEPT THIS ASSISTANCE,
(B) THE D..R. LETTERS OF 26 FEBRUARY 1969 GIVE NO DETAILS OF THE BASIS OF CALCULATION, ARE IMPRECISE IN REGARD TO COVERAGE (THE TERM "CLOTHING" IS USED), AND DO NOT INDICATE ANY RIGHT
OR METHODS TO APPEAL.
(C) ATTEMPTS TO CONSIDER THE SITUATION AND ASSIST THE TRADE
HAVE BEEN HAMPERED BY THE FACT THAT CANADIAN GOVERNMENT REPRES-AND
ENTATIVES IN HONG KONG DO NOT HOLD A COPY OF THE CUSTOMS ACT.
IN ANY CASE, THE DAR LETTERS DID NOT INDICATE UNDER WHICH
SECTION OF THE ACT THE DIRECTIONS WERE MADE.
(F C O PLS PASS TO OTTAWA AND GENEVA)
SIR D. TRENCH
/REPEATED AS REQUESTED/
INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
HONG KONG DEPT.
N.A. & C.D.
TRADE POLICY DEPT.
COMMODITIES DEPT.
NANNIN
CONFIDENTIAL
}