CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
PRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NO. 201
TOP COPY
TO HONG KONG
25 MARCH 1969
(K 6/531/1)
81
CONFIDENTIAL.
NEUTRAL.
ADDRESSED TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 281 OF 25 MARCH
REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO STOCKHOLM, UKMIS GENEVA (FOR JONES).
62
72
a (56
YOUR TELEGRAMS NOS. 177,224 AND 246.
SWEDISH TEXTILE NEGOTIATIONS.]
WE NOTE FROM TEL 224 THAT YOU HAVE NOW ARRANGED WITH THE SWEDES THAT THE CONSULTATIONS SHALL COMMENCE IN HONG KONG WHEN THE
SWEDISH DELEGATION ARRIVE ON 23 APRIL.
2. THE INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE SWEDISH OBJECTIVE IN THESE CONSULT-
ATIONS WILL BE TO OBTAIN AN EXTENSION OF THE EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS
FOR A FURTHER PERIOD OF ONE YEAR WITHOUT PRESSING FOR RESTRAINTS
ON ANY FURTHER ITEMS.
Jus
3. WE HAVE CONSIDERED THE QUESTIONS RAISED BY PARAGRAPHS 2 AND
6 OF YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 177. IN RESPECT OF THE ITEMS ALREADY SUBJECT TO RESTRAINT, THERE IS NO OBJECTION TO YOUR CONCLUDING NEW RESTRAINT ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE YEAR BEGINNING 1 JULY 1969 ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE RELEVANT STATISTICS AND SUPPORTING ARGUMENTS
ARE ACCEPTABLE BOTH TO YOU AND TO US AS FORTIFICATION. WE HOPE
THAT THE STATISTICS WHICH YOU HAVE REQUESTED WILL ALSO SOON BE
MADE AVAILABLE TO US THROUGH OUR EMBASSY IN STOCKHOLM. WHEN THEY
ARE AVAILABLE WE SHALL EXAMINE THEM AND LET YOU HAVE OUR COMMENTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
4. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES BOARD OF TRADE WILL NOT WISH TO BE REPRESENTED AT CONSULTATIONS IN HONG KONG. BUT WE WOULD WISH TO BE KEPT INFORMED OF PROGRESS AS IS YOUR NORMAL PRACTICE.
5. IF HOWEVER THE SWEDES IN THE EVENT SEEK AN EXTENSION OF THE RESTRAINT ARRANGEMENTS TO OTHER NON-COTTON TEXTILE GOODS NOT CURRENTLY UNDER RESTRAINT WE SHOULD HAVE TO GIVE CAREFUL CONSIDER-
ATION BOTH TO THE STRENGTH OF THEIR REQUEST AND TO YOUR
ASSESSMENT OF YOUR OWN INTERESTS BEFORE WE CAN AGREE. WE SHOULD
LE GRATEFUL THEREFORE IF YOU WOULD REFER ANY SUCH PROPOSALS TO
US BEFORE AGREEING ANY COMMITMENTS TO THE SWEDES.
STEWART
INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION
HONG KONG DEPT.
F.3.D.
COMMODITIES DEPT.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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