40
GR120
· PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT A
FM FCO 011655Z
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELNO.414 OF 1 JUNE. INFO BRUSSELS (FOR BURGESS), UKMIS GENEVA (FOR MILLS),
YOUR TELNO.548.
FUTURE OF THE MFA.
LACT
AECLARE No. 51
-3 Jüm!!!!
HKK 1211616
382.
(42) (44,
47
1. WE FULLY APPRECIATE THE ANXIETY IN THE TEXTILE AND GARMENT
INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG OVER THE FUTURE OF THE MFA. WE ARE DOUBTFUL; HOWEVER, WHETHER THE VISIT PROPOSED BY A DELEGATION FROM THE INDUSTRY WOULD SERVE A USEFUL PURPOSE. DEAPARTMENTS CONCERNED HERE
ARE WELL AWARE OF HONG KONG'S INTERESTS WHICH HAVE, OF COURSE, BEEN FULLY EXPLAINED AND DOCUMENTED IN CONTACTS WITH YOUR OFFICIALS, NOT
ONLY IN WHITEHALL BUT ALSO I CENEVA AND BRUSSELS. WE FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT ANYTHING NEW WOULD EMERGE FROM DISCUSSIONS
WITH THE DELEGATION.
2. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD TRY TO
PERSUADE THE TEXTILE AND GARMENT ASSOCIATIONS TO DROP THEIR PROPOSAL TO SEND A DELEGATION TO LONDON. WE SHOULD, OF COURSE, DE READY TO CONSIDER ANY WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS THAT THE ASSOCIATIONS MAY WISH
TO MAKE
OWEN
FILE S
HKGD
EID
TRED
PRES SEC MR.CORTAZZI
MR. HIBBERT
COPIES TO:
CRE1/TOT,
CREA/DOI.
CT1/DOI.
HZGO.
RESTRICTED
MR. LOCKHEED, MR. ASHWOOD,
MISS LOWNE, MR. KIDD,