CRS320
FLASH
CYPHER/CAT-A-
FM UKREP BRUSSELS 181247Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
TO FLASH FCO TELNO 6981 OF 18 NOVEMBER.
TEXTILES: NEGOTIATIONS WITH HONG KONG
HKK121/616/1
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1. BECK (THE COMMISSION'S DEPUTY NEGOTIATOR FOR HONG KONG) HAS
JUST TELEPHONED TO WARN THAT:-
2.
(1) THE COMMISSION HAVE DECIDED TO PROCEED WITH AUTONOMOUS
MEASURES AGAINST HONG KONG AND SOUTH KOREA, TO TAKE EFFECT FROM 1 JANUARY 1978. COMMISSIONER HAFERKMAP WILL INFORM THE
21 NOVEMBER COUNCIL OF THIS DECISION.
11) BURCESS, OF THE HONG KONG BRUSSELS MISSION, HAS BEEN
SUMMONED FOR 1500 HOURS LOCAL TODAY TO BE TOLD THAT THE COMMISSION'S NEGOTIATORS NOW HAVE INSTRUCTIONS TO BEGIN DISTRIBUTING HONG KONG QUOTA TO SUCH COUNTRIES AS INDIA, SRI LANKA ETC.
ELLIOTT THANKED BECK FOR GIVING US ADVANCE NOTICE, ALBEIT SHORT, AND SAID THAT HE WOULD REPORT THESE SERIOUS DEVELOPMENTS IMMEDIATELY TO LONDON. IN ADDITION, HE REAFFIRMED THAT THE UK COULD NOT APPROVE OF THE PROPOSED PARCELLING OUT OF HONG KONG QUOTA, ON WHICH MR DELL HAD RECEIVED A PERSONAL ASSURANCE FROM COMMISSIONER
DAVIGNON. BECK REPLIED THAT HIS INSTRUCTIONS CAME FROM HIS OWN COMMISSIONER (HAFERKMAP) AND HE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO ACT ON THEM.
ELLIOTT THEN ASKED THAT NO EARLY ACTION BE TAKEN TO GIVE EFFECT
TO THESE INSTRUCTIONS: HE ACCEPTED THAT THE WARNING TO BURGESS
WOULD HAVE TO GO AHEAD BUT HIS PERSONAL VIEW WAS THAT THE HONG
KONG SIDE WERE NEARING A POINT OF DECISION ABOUT WHETHER TO RESUME
NEGOTIATIONS AND THAT NO IRREVERSIBLE STEPS SHOULD THUS BE TAKEN
BY THE COMMISSION. BECK COULD ONLY TAKE NOTE,
•
CONFIDENTIAL
/FCO