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FM F C O 141520Z
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TO ROUTINE GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO 359 OF 14 MAY.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 317.
LAST
REF
(77)
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM MONSON.
REF.
DEFENCE CONTRIBUTION.
1. FOR YOUR STRICTLY PERSONAL INFORMATION WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO
PERSUADE THE TREASURY TO AGREE TO SPECIAL CLAUSE IN THIS YEAR'S
FINANCE BILL PROVIDING FOR EXCLUSION FROM TARIFF OF COTTON
TEXTILES SHIPPED AGAINST QUOTAS IN 1971 BUT ARRIVING IN BRITAIN
AT ANY TIME DURING THE FIRST 3 MONTHS OF 1972. THIS HAS HELD UP
REPLY TO YOUR TELEGRAMS.
2.
TREASURY AND MOD HAVE BOTH TAKENVERY STRONG LINE AGAINST IDEAS IN YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 266 AND WE HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY IN
REACHING AGREEMENT WITH THEM ON TERMS OF FURTHER MESSAGE TO
UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS. DRAFT TELEGRAMS AGREED WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS
AT OFFICIAL LEVEL WILL BE SUBMITTED TO OUR MINISTERS AS SOON AS WE KNOW OUTCOME OF OUR EXCHANGES WITH THE TREASURY ON TRANSITIONAL
ARRANGEMENTS FOR TEXTILES (PARAGRAPH 1 ABOVE). DRAFTS FOLLOW
OUTLINE SUGGESTED BY YOU BUT DO NOT GO AS FAR AS YOU MAY HAVE
HOPED IN SUPPORTING THE IDEAS OUTLINED IN YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 266.
3. WE EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO GET THE TELEGRAMS AWAY TO YOU NEXT WEEK.
DOUGLAS-HOME
FILES
IKD
DEFENCE DEPT
SIR L MONSON MR WILFORD MR CABLE
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RECEIVED IN
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