C. & 1. 200
2700206
5,000-7/66-B$$340
TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS:----
“CANDIHONG" HONG KONG
OUR REF.:
YOUR REF.:
CR HIC 294/5/11/5II
12
18 NOV 1968
11/376013
COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT)
FIRE BRIGade buildiNG,
HỒNG KÔNG.
12 November
Dear Bob,
We have just sent off a telegram referring te the Governor's despatch on wide sheeting and sheets and saying that we are starting to make arrangements for the issue of next year's quota on the basis of the exchange of telegrams after Shean Stewart's visit and of the despatch itself.
2.
The reason is, as we've said in the telegram, that, if we are not to disrupt normal trade at this end, we must allocate quota before the new year starts and we have to start working all this out well in advance - in fact we've already started.
3.
I'm writing because you may well ask why, in that case, I didn't mention this aspect to you while you were here. I'm afraid the answer is simple: I didn't know about it then. As I did explain to you, I am a comparative newcomer to the Department, and am not directly involved in all the very compli- cated arrangements for the calculation, issue and control of quota,
4.
Incidentally, we were a little surprised to see, from page 4 of Tattersall's No. 1399 (5 November) that the agreement we reached has apparently already been released in Britain. On the whole we feel that simultaneous announcemeOE are to be preferred. You will appreciate that we could be in a rather embarrassing position if the Tattersall's report is picke up by the wire services, and passed to Hong Kong and then we ar questioned about it. We should have to some ɑlean if ve ver avoid generating heat and suspicion here, but we should really prefer not to say anything until the arrangements are formally agreed, i... until we get the reply to the Governor's despatak.
/5. It would be .........