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1.
There are no major outstanding bilateral textile issues
with Hong Kong (apart from the UK's alignment with the EEC
GSF see separate Brief).
2.
The Hong Kong Director of Commerce and Industry is
participating at the GATT Ministerial talks in Tokyo commencing
12 September. He will speak as a member of the UK delegation
"on behalf of Hong Kong."
3. On a similar basis Hong Kong will take part in the GATT
negotiations in Geneva beginning later this year to discuss
what should replace the Long Term Arrangement (LTA) on Cotton
Textiles when it expires at the end of 1973. It may be replaced
by a multi-fibre agreement which Hong Kong would favour as it
would allow greater flexibility.
Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Department 7 September 1973
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