(36) on
HWB 6/47 (Flag A)
(38) on HWB 6/47 (Flag B)
Background
3. In August, 1968 the Board of Trade presented an Aide
Memoire for transmission to the Hong Kong Government, to the
effect that HMG wished to negotiate reduced levels of imports
of wide sheeting and sheets because the sheeting sector of the
cotton textile industry was suffering material injury.
ilar negotiations were to be held with India.
already been put under restraint.
4.
Sim-
Portugal had
The Hong Kong Government agreed to consider the United
Kingdom case and it was arranged that Mr S. Stewart (then of
the Board of Trade) should visit Hong Kong for negotiations
on the 5th - 6th September, taking in negotiations with India
on the return journey. When the Aide Memoire was being draf-
ted we already had reason to be dissatisfied with the attitude
of the Board of Trade (and of Mr Stewart in particular) and
shortly before the negotiations were due to commence we found
it necessary:-
(a) to impress upon the Board of Trade that the
negotiations must be regarded as taking place
within the context of the Heads of Agreement
(b) to insist that we should see the Board of Trade
(c)
brief
to inform the Board of Trade that I would attend
the talks.
Mr Mason's letter of the 27th August, 1968 to Mr Carey and the
note of a meeting on the 29th August with the Board of Trade
are relevant.
In the event a copy of the Board of Trade brief
was supplied only hours before my departure.
/5.