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CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 536
CONFIDENTIAL.
NEUTRAL.
TO HONG KONG
14 AUGUST 1969 (HKK 6/331/)
ADDRESSED TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 536 OF 14 AUGUST
REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO OTTAWA.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 638: CANADIAN TEXTILE NEGOTIATIONS.
WE REGRET THAT THERE STILL SEEMS TO BE MISUNDERSTANDING BETWEEN US OVER THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES AND WE SHALL OBVIOUSLY NEED TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER WITH YOU BEFORE LONG. MEANWHILE WE APPRECIATE YOUR DIFFICULTIES HAVING REGARD TO THE IMMINENCE OF TALKS WITH CANADIANS AND WE ARE ANXIOUS TO DO ALL WE CAN TO HELP YOU AND TO
AVOID PREJUDICING YOUR POSITION WITHIN THE LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY OUR OWN VERY REAL DIFFICULTIES REFERRED TO IN TELEGRAM 513.
2. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES IT SEEMS TO US THAT YOU SHOULD TRY TO
REACH SOME ACCOMMODATION WHICH WILL ALLOW YOU TO
(A) HOLD THE POSITION AGAINST THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE CANADIANS
WILL TAKE UNILATERAL ACTION AGAINST YOUR EXPORTS:
(B) AVOID ENTERING INTO RESTRAINT ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WOULD ONLY
PROVE FAIR TO HONG KONG IF THE JAPANESE WERE TO ENTER INTO
COMPARABLE ARRANGEMENTS:
(C) AVOID PREJUDICING MAJOR ISSUES OF POLICY AFFECTING BOTH THE
U.K. AND HONG KONG WHICH ARISE IN CONNECTION WITH GENEVA MEETING
ON 8/10 OCTOBER.
LAGT
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