CYPHER/CAT A
PRIORITY
HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER
567
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
18 JULY 1969
16
CONFIDENTIAL
NEUTRAL
TELNO. 567 OF 18TH JULY,
U.K. TEXTILE COUNCIL REPORT.
AT A MEETING OF THE TEXTILES ADVISORY BOARD TODAY, WITH THE
DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY IN THE CHAIR, UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS
GAVE THEIR VIEWS ON TEXTILE COUNCIL'S REPORT FOLLOWING CONSULTATIONS
WITH THEIR INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATIONS.
2. ALL MEMBERS WERE FUNDAMENTALLY OPPOSED TO THE REPORT'S
PROPOSALS THAT A TARIFF SHOULD BE IMPOSED ON U.K. IMPORTS OF
COMMONWEALTH COTTON TEXTILES AND THAT QUOTAS SHOULD BE PHASED OUT.
SUBJECT TO THE USE OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE CTA TO REIMPOSE
QUANTATIVE LIMITATIONS IF IMPORTS SUBSEQUENTLY INCREASED OVERALL
OR IN PARTICULAR CATEGORIES. THEIR REASONS FOR THIS WERE AS
FOLLOWS:-
(A) THE TEXTILE COUNCIL REPORT SURVEYED ONLY PART OF THE BRITISH
INDUSTRY (EXCLUDING GARMENTS) AND ITS STATISTICS ARE UNFAIRLY
WEIGHTED. IT DOES NOT PROVIDE A SOUND BASIS FOR A DECISION
THAT WOULD HAVE FAR-REACHING DISRUPTIVE EFFECTS ON COMMONWEALTH
TRADE WITH BRITAIN.
LAST
REF
RECEIVED I RECATRY 12,31 21 PIL 1969
1:EXT
REF.
* 664499)
CONFIDENTIAL
/(B) THE TARIFF
HKK 6/548/8