(9
CONFIDENTIAL
HONG
5 4
KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
PALL
Our Ref: 11/376CD
H.H. Stewart, Esq.,
MALL
Foreign & Commonwealth Office,
Hong Kong Department, Central Building No. 4, Matthew Parker Street, LONDON, S.W.1.
my dear Herbert,
LONDON
S. W. I
15th November 1968
Tattersalls "Weekly Survey of the Textile Scene" for 5th November 1968 contains a section under the heading "Recategorising of Bed Linen Arrivals" which purports to outline recent arrangements agreed by the Board of Trade with India and Hong Kong: I attach a copy of the section in question.
The disclosure of details of confidential arrangements which have not yet been finalised is very disturbing, especially in view of the likely effects of this disclosure on the Hong Kong textile industry (see, for instance, para 19 of the Governor's Despatch No. 1269). But I am particularly perturbed at the impression given in the third sentence that the disclosure was authorised. I appreciate that the wording of press articles is some- times loose, but in the present circumstances I consider I must seek reassurance on behalf of my Government that the disclosure was not in fact authorised by any of the parties in this country having official access to inform- ation on the draft agreements.
DMS/MDB
Enc.
You con
Javed
(D.M. Sellers)
TELEPHONE WHITEHALL 01-930-7951
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.31 1 9 NOV 1968
AKK 6/548/1
CABLES HONGAID LONDON
S.W.I
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