HKK 3/548/12
33)
Mr Grattan
MR RIFON'S AUTUMN TOUR
1.
We spoke on the telephone about Mr Laidler's minute of 8 August.
2. He suggest that for his visit to Hong Kong Mr Rippon be provided with briefs as follows:
(a)
(b)
(၁)
Personality Notes
Hong Kong "Fact Sheet"
Background Note on the Constitution
Textiles
(a)
(e)
Maco Transit Railway Schene
(f)
Air Traffic Rights (SAS)
(£)
Hong Kong and the 25C
then
3. (u) to (c) are already available. You will have seen from the tele rams that we have not, unfortunately, been able to reach agreement with Hong Kong over the question of voluntary restraint: on non-cottens. Commodities De- partment are in touch with DTI on this. We think that the preparation of the brief for Mr Ripon should be delayed as long as possible. Would you have any objection if we suggest to Mr Fakenham that we should aim at getting this brief to him by the end of next week? ven ch we would, I think, have to supplement the brief by telegram.
it. Much the same kind of consideration applies in the case of the brief on the underground railway. There is to be a meeting in the Treasury on Thursday 24 August to discuss pro- posals of the DTI for financing the project. This is the key to the problem und it would be pointleer to prepare a brief until we know how the Treasury are g ing to root to the DTI suggestions. Could this brief also be delayed until the end of next week?
15.