Mr. Stewart (HKD)
27/5
Reference..
Annex "B"
Commodities Dept.
冂
PA Mar 27/5
I agree with the draft brief with the amendments suggested by Mr. Collings. In any public statement in Hong Kong (including for example statements to the Textile Advisory Board), it will of course
be important not to imply that there may be
a difference of view on this issue between Departments in Whitehall. This may well be the case but if so it will be entirely a matter for internal departmental discussion. Thereafter, once the Government' s decision has been taken it will not be open to any Department to disclose a difference of view.
request
The question of the Textile Council's appeat for a 15% tariff, was mentioned to me in only a very cursory way and I got the impression that while Hong Kong would undoubtedly make a tremendous noise about any proposal to impose tariffs on their textile imperts to Britain, they might in the end decide that they could probably do better with a reasonable tariff than they could under the present quota arrangements. But I would not like this to be quoted as a Hong Kong view having regard to the circumstances under which it was passed on to me.
I have no doubt that in any formal discussien of the topic a much tougher line would be taken.
HICK 6/548/8
Aitantu
(G.S. Whitehead)
22.5.69
Mag this braf
as amended
by Commodities Depté pé be faued
how?
7
Networ
27/5