URGENT.
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Wilford
HANG
HONG
FEC GPS.
245
234
≥233
in HKK
Part>
6/
1. A propos your question this morning as to whether DTI are contemplating the imposition of restraints on Hong Kong, I attach two papers (which you have already seen) commenting on a brief (attached below but not previously addressed to you) for the Secretary of State for an AE Meeting on 25 October.
2.
For some time the DTI have been considering the effect of our entering the EEC and, amongst other things, the change from quotas to tariffs and a possible return to quotas in one or two years time vis-a-vis dependent territories including Hong Kong. In fact it seems highly likely that to meet EEC requirements, Britain will need to apply quantative restrictions and this is certainly not going to be popular with Hong Kong.
5. I have spoken to Mr Hale of Commodities who is in the best position to explain the latest developments should you wish to pursue the matter further before Mr Laird returns on Monday next.
Sr. Murthy
J A Clewley
Hong Kong Department
28 October 1971
Sur Laird.
Atthough I spoke
b
her hilford about this
aufject I
و
Mid
not in fact
send this
mcante & him
mainly
висател
events
Love
moned fest during the wick
late
*
entitled
to assimilate
a
Any (Fri 29/10) Burtish Teatte Policy" which
before deciding the
K
armand
paper
from
Comanditas
you will
wich
best
* Atta betoon. вила.
w
course of action.
29 · 10 · 71.
I when you
from fotio 226
226 (when
NB. Please also ups the immediate ryurmat.
§ 13 sums
вито про
CONFIDENTIAL
best
Law this fate