CONFIDENTIAL
AT WAY TO RE
RE
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24 JUNI977
PIA (John Sten
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Mr Murray
HONG KONG:
АКК HKK 121
FUTURE OF THE MFA
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1. A delegation of representatives from Hong Kong's textile and apparel industries will be calling on you at 3.30 pm this afternoon to discuss the future of the Multi-Fibre Arrangement (MFA). I attach a list of the members of the delegation. They will be seeing Mr Meacher, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the DOT tomorrow morning, Wednesday 22 June and Mr Ridley, Deputy Secretary at the DOI on Thursday 23 June.
2. I attach a copy of Hong Kong telegram no. 548 of 30 May which explains the origins of the delegations visit. Their declared purpose is "to convey to HMG the views and concerns of the Hong Kong industry on the future of the MFA". The DOT and DOI as well
as ourselves were doubtful whether any useful purpose would be served by the delegation's visit but, in the light of further representations from the Hong Kong Government (Hong Kong telegram no. FLAG C 562 of 3 June), we reluctantly agreed to the visit. Lord
Goronwy-Roberts has not been keen to see the delegation and
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Sir Peter Carey, Permanent Secretary at the DOT, whom the delegation asked to see will not be available. We have informed the Hong Kong
Government that we have not been able to arrange as high a level of programme of calls as the delegation would have wished; they have expressed satisfaction at the arrangements that we have been
able to make.
(in draft) 3. I submit a brief, prepared by EID(E), for your meeting together
FLAG D, with copies of your letters of 7 March and 20 May to the Govenor E AND For Hong Kong and his latest letter of 11 June.
of
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(The department,
in consultation with EID(E), will prepare a draft reply to the Governor's letter after the delegation's visit.)
21 June 1977
Cc: Mr Arbuthnott
1.0.B. Stuut
JAB Steart
Hong Kong & General Department
CONEI DENTIAL