3. DUT THE COMMISSION EMPHASIZED THAT NECOTIATIONS ACQUISE THELP
{
THAT
OWY MOMENTUM, THE LONGER HONG KONG PREVARICATED, THE MORE MIFFICULT IT WOULD BE FOR THE COMMISSION TO 13OLATE THE CGLORY'S **SHARE** FROM THE NUMSEROUS OTHER DEMANDEURS. IT ULD UNDOUBTEDLY HAPPEN - AND WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY OPPORTUNITIES OCCUR TO CLOSE A BARGAIN WITH SMALLER SUPPLIERS, OR EVEN WITH ONE OF THE DOMINANTS (EG SOUTH KOREA) IF ONLY A FEW MORE TONNES OR THOUSAND PIECES CAN BE FOUND. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, NO REPRESENTATIONS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM WOULD DETER THE COMMISSION PROCEEDING, AS THEY SEE IT, TO ACT IN PURSUANCE OF THEIR MANDATE, EVEN IF THIS MEANT THAT THE SHARE OF THE CAKE FOR THE LATECOMERS (INTO WHICH CATEGORY HONG KONG HAS NOW PLACED HERSELF) WAS DIMINISHED. TRAN IS DETERMINED THAT ONLY CRUMBS WILL REMAIN FOR THOSE WHO PLAY THE WAITING GAME.
4. THE COMMISSION'S GRUDGING WILLINGNESS TO LEAVE ROOM FOR HONG KONG FOR THE MOMENT WAS, MOREOVER, NOT IMPROVED BY THE ABSENCE OF CVSH TENTATIVE HINTS THAT HONG KONG WOULD BE WILLING TO TALK SERIOUSLY BY THE END OF NOVEMBER. THIS MADE IT ALL THE MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO REJECT THE GROWING CHORUS OF REQUESTS FROM THE POOREST EXPORTERS (EG, SPI LANKHA) WHO OBJECTIVELY SPEAKING HAD A SOUNDER CASE FOR LESS HARSH TREATMENT THAN HONG KONG
SHARE
FOR A MODEST SHAPE OF HONG KONG'S SLICE, AND THE
- WILLINGNESS OF THE SOUTH KOPEANS TO ACCEPT THE CONCEPT OF
CUTBACKS AND TO NEGOTIATE ABOUT THEIR EXTENT ALSO THREW HONG KONG'S POSITION INTO UNFAVOURABLE RELIEF.
5. THESE CONVERSATIONS OF COURSE TOOK PLACE BEFORE BUT GO SOME WAY TO EXPLAIN - NEWS OF THE LATEST COMMISSION DECISION (MY TELNO 6981).
FCO ADVANCE TO:
FCO STERN EID(E): STEWART (HKD)
(DESKBY 181502Z)
MAITLAND
NNIN
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