comitential
RECOVED IN REGISTRY No.51
Mr Hale (Commodities Department)
RETE OF TAIP ON COTTON TEXTILES
1. Thank you for your minute of 15 Juns.
2. I had ori, inglly thought that there would be a further alternative open to us, namely, to seek a decision in, rincipic
rinciple now (which could be conveyed both to Tadia and Pasistan and Hong Kong and also to the trade) and to leave the paceage of the necessary legislation to the next ession of Parliament, On refletion, however, I agree with you what this is a non-starter if for no other reason Vecause there would presumably be many who would argue that the adoption of this course would in effect mean that KG were teking Parliamentary & proval for granted.
3.
I have only one comment to make on your draft cubmission and draft minute. I suggest you might cars to strengthen the considerable resentment" which fullure to provide temporary zelief would lead to by including the words after resentment" "with far-reaching implications Re have proposed to Hong Kong that the next defence contribution agreement should run for a period of 5 years. There has been come talk of extending the veriod to 7 years but I think that for purposes of this submission it would be best to stick to the 5 years.
4.
I hope that the DTI are not going to let us down cver this.
1-KK 6/548/3!
15 June 1971
cc
Mr A Morgan (SAD)
E O Laird
Hong Kong Department
confidential