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3. AS REGARDS (A) YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY WHICH YOU WANT.
WHAT I CANNOT GUARANTEE IS THAT THE CONCLUSIONS WHICH THE BOARD OF TRADE WILL THEN PRESENT INTERDEPARTMENTALLY, FIRST TO OFFICIALS AND LATER TO MINISTERS, WILL FULLY ACCORD WITH HONG KONG'S VIEWS,
BUT YOUR VIEWS WILL CERTAINLY BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
4. AS REGARDS (B) I HAVE WRITTEN MORE FULLY IN MY PERSONAL LETTER
OF 22 AUGUST WHICH SHOULD REACH YOU VERY SOON. I SHOULD BE GLAD FOR
CONFIRMATION THAT YOU REALLY ARE PREPARED TO SEE THE SITUATION
SPELT OUT. MY STRONG FEELING IS THAT THE OUTCOME, WHICH MUST TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION, WILL BE UNWELCOME AND THAT DIFFICULT AS THE PRESENT SITUATION IS IT IS BETTER TO PROCEED WITHOUT WRITTEN RULES. THERE REMAINS THE QUESTION OF WHAT IS TO BE SAID TO THE T.A.B. AND QUITE FRANKLY I FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE ANY CHOICE BETWEEN EITHER REITERATING WHAT JORDAN TOLD THEM, WHICH IS REPORTED IN YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 661 (PARAGRAPH 3) AND PRODUCING A FORMULA SETTING OUT THE FORMAL POSITION WHICH WILL BE EVEN MORE UNPOPULAR WITH THEM THAN IT IS
WITH YOU.
5. AS REGARDS (C) IT IS OUR HOPE THAT THE STRENGTH OF THE HONG KONG POSITION WILL BE SO EXPOSED BY JORDAN AND THE EXTENT OF POSSIBLE
DAMAGE TO HONG KONG MADE SO CLEAR THAT THE CONCLUSION WILL EMERGE
THAT HONG KONG MUST BE PERMITTED TO EXTEND ITS RESTRAINT
AGREEMENTS AT LEAST FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
STEWART
FILES
HONG KONG DEPT COMMODITIES DEPT SIR L. MONSON MR. GALLAGHER MR. WILFORD
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