HKK 6/531/1
Ron Surdish File,
Hong Kong Department
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London S.W.1
8 January, 1969
23
Thank you for the record you sent of our meeting on 2 January, 1969 about Hong Kong textile exports to Sweden: this is, in my opinion, an accurate summary of what I found to be a very useful discussion. However, I have one reservation.
2.
So far as I know, Jordan was without instructions from his Government when we were considering between us the line which might be followed on the Swedish request for restraint when actual negotiations began. To that extent were we really in a position to reach the agreement you record in your paragraph 4?
3. I see that you have sent Sellers of the Hong Kong Government Office a copy of the same record, and I am also copying this letter to him. I imagine that he will send the record to his when,
i stry ir the Hong Kong Government should happen to disagree with our line, they will no doubt say so. Presumably there is the further possibility that the information Jordan hopes to extract in Stockholm will be found to dictate a somewhat different negotiating line, and it is my recollection that Goldsmith did say that we would, of course, have to look at this again in the light of any figures produced by the Swedes.
4.
Whether it will be necessary before negotiations begin to hold a further meeting of the same sort, with the Hong Kong Government Office perhaps speaking for their Government, I do not know;
it may well be sufficient to deal with the matter by correspondence, particularly if in the event the Hong Kong Government agree with the preliminary views recorded in your note.
LAST
REF.
29
(W. S. Carter)
0. H. Kemmis, Esq., Board of Trade.
Copies to: Mr. Goldsmith -CRE.1
Miss Elliott - CRE.1
Mr. Toms - CRE.2
Mr. Carey - I.1.
Mr. S. Stewart - I.1.
Mr. D. Sellers - Hong Kong Govt.Office:
(two copies)