3. JORDAN, DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, WAS ASKED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON WHETHER ANY OFFICIAL REPLY
HAD BEEN RECEIVED TO THE REPRESENTATION FOR IMPERATIVE REMOVAL
OF DCRIMINATION AND IF NOT WHETHER HE WOULD TAKE THE MATTER
UP FURTHER SINCE THE INTENTION TO PRESS FOR INCLUSION ONLY FROM
1975 ONWARD IS HIGHLY UNSATISFACTORY AND WILL PROVE DISASTROUS''.
4. IN HIS REPLY MR. JORDAN DREW THE ATTENTION TO MR. DAVIES'
STATEMENT AS PUBLICISED IN HONG KONG AND CONVEYED TO THE
PETITIONERS. HE SAID THAT WHILE MAKING IT CLEAR HOW STRONGLY HONG KONG FELT ON THIS MATTER IT HAD TO BE LEFT TO H.M.G. TO
DECIDE THE TACTICS OF THE OPERATION. AT THE SAME TIME HONG KONG
WOULD CONTINUE TO PRESS THEIR VIEWS AND PUT FORWARD ANY FURTHER REPRESENTATIONS THAT MAY BE RECEIVED FROM HONG KONG AFFECTED INTERESTS.
5. HE DREW ATTENTION TO THE CHANGES IN THE TARIFF QUOTA ARRANGE- MENTS THAT WOULD HELP HONG KONG ON OTHER ITEMS ALTHOUGH AGREEING THAT THIS MAY SEEM COLD COMFORT TO THE TEXTILE AND FOOTWEAR INDUSTRIES". HE CONCLUDED 'WE SHALL CONTINUE TO PRESS NOT FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT BUT FOR EQUAL TREATMENT FOR HONG KONG WITH THE OBJECT OF SEEING THIS DISCRIMINATION REMOVED BY 1975''.
6. HE HAS ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT HE IS LEAVING FOR U.K. THIS EVENING FOR GENERAL DISCUSSIONS DURING WHICH ONE SUBJECT WILL BE THE G.S.P.
7. NOW THAT D.C. AND 1. HAVE DONE THE BEST THEY CAN IN ALL
CONSCIENCE TO DILUTE THE EVIDENT DISSATISFACTION WITH U.K.'S EFFORTS IT IS PROBABLE THAT ANY FURTHER CRITICISM WILL BE AIMED AT US WHEN WE WILL BE ASKED TO EXPLAIN H.M.G.'S ATTITUDE, ALTHOUGH SO FAR PRESS HAVE NOT BEEN IN TOUCH WITH US AND WE ARE NOT
INVITING QUESTIONS. GRATEFUL THEREFORE FOR EARLIEST POSSIBLE
BRIEFING ON POINTS RAISED IN MY LETTER AND TO BE KEPT INFORMED OF
FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS INCLUDING DISCUSSIONS WITH JORDAN.
ASTON
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SENT AT 28/0939Z RD