Mr Wilford
Mr Logan
CONFIDENTIAL
56
TA
TEXTILES: HONG KONG AND THE EEC
1. You will wish to know that the EEC discussions on a
possible mandate for a Community agreement with Hong Kong on
non-cotton textiles have been further adjourned until May.
2. Meanwhile Mr Dorwood, the Acting Deputy Director of
Commerce and Industry, Hong Kong, who has been in London for
discussions with the DTI, made the personal suggestion that
there might be an agreement, Communitywide and comprehensive
in form, whereby the Hong Kong Government would agree to
inform individual countries of the Community of 6 monthly
projections of each exports of all categories. The importing
each
countries would have a right, if they wished to draw Hong Kong's
attention to increases and to propose restrictions to take
effect for that particular country 6 months ahead. This would
amount to a comprehensive agreement, but without specific
trigger points or consultation levels. It would have the
advantage for Hong Kong that manufacturers could plan with
confidence 6 months ahead. It would also reconcile the
concepts of originaliom and proven damage with the desire for
an agreement with the Community as a whole.
regionaliom
3. Mr Ridley, the responsible Under-Secretary in the DTI,
made the revealing comment that the problem for the UK was
that restrictions on specific items by one country would not
then need the agreement of other members of the Community.
The UK's interest was to take a hard line on restrictions
/until
CONFIDENTIAL
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