14
RESTRICTED
17
2145-
HKK 175/2
PP PEKING
GRS 153
RESTRICTED
FM F C O 161158Z FEB 79
TO PRIORITY PEKING
TELEGRAM NUMBER 164 OF 16 FEBRUARY.
YOUR TEL NO 212: ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION ACPEEMENT : SHIPPING.
1. WE INTERPRET YOUR FINAL SENTENCE TO MEAN THAT YOU BELIEVE THE
CHINESE WILL WANT A PEFERENCE TO SHIPPING SIMILAR TO THAT INCLUDED
IN THE SINO/FRENCH ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AGREEMENT. WE DO NOT
REGARD THIS AS ENOUGH TO MEET THE INTEREST OF OUR SHIPOWNERS : WE WOULD STILL WISH TO NEGOTIATE AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS UNDER THE -
UMBRELLA OF THE ECA, ON THE LINES PROPOSED IN PARA 5 OF OUR TEL NO 66. IF THE CHINESE INDICATE THAT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DISCUSS
THIS, YOU SHOULD EXPRESS DISAPPOINTMENT, AND SAY THAT PRISTON WILL
WISH TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER DURING MR VARLEY'S VISIT. IT WOULD
HELP IF YOU COULD CLARIFY WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION WHETHER
PRISTON SHOULD TALK TO THEM OR TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN TRADE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR POLICY ON THE PLACING OF CARGO.
OWEN
NNNN
FILES
FED
HK AND GD
MAED
MP CORTAZZI
MISS BROWN
X
1
RESTRICTED
ADDITIONAL DISTN.
CHINA TRADE
COPIES TO:
SHIPPING POLICY DIVN. DOT
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