CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PP GOV HONG KONG
RR BTC HONG KONG.
NO DICTMBUTION
GRS 200
CONFIDENTIAL
FM DTI 251800Z NOV 82
TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER OTTER 110 OF 25 NOVEMBER
INFO UKREP BRUSSELS, UKMIS GENEVA BTC HONG KONG
PERSONAL FROM MINISTER FOR TRADE TO GOVENOR
ANNEX D
38534
1
YOU WILL HAVE HEARD THAT THE COUNCIL AGREED ON MONDAY TO
AUTHORIZE THE COMMISSION TO SHOW SOME FLEXIBILITY IN THEIR
RESUMED NEGOTIATIONS WITH MILLS, SO LONG AS THEY REMAINED WITHIN THE GLOBAL CEILINGS FOR THE FIVE SENSITIVE CLOTHING CATEGORIES. AS I
TOLD DORWARD LAST FRIDAY I WAS ABLE TO GIVE MY FULL SUPPORT TO THE COMMISSION'S PROPOSALS.
"
YOU SHOULD ALSO KNOW THAT (AS IN EVERY OTHER COUNCIL I HAVE ATTENDED ON THIS SUBJECT) I AGAIN REMINDED MY COLLEAGUES THAT HONG KONG ALONE OF THE COMMUNITY'S DOMINANT SUPPLIERS OFFERED A COMPLETELY OPEN MARKET TO US. I HOPE THAT THIS COULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AT THIS FINAL STAGE AND IN PARTICULAR THAT SPECIAL UNDERSTANDING COULD BE SHOWN FOR YOUR REQUESTS ON THE FORM OF THE NEW BILATERAL
AGREEMENT.
I HOPE THAT IT WILL NOW BE POSSIBLE TO MOVE QUICKLY TOWARDS FINAL AGREEMENT. THERE IS REALLY NOTHING MORE WE CAN GIVE THE COMMISSION AND IN MY OPINION ANY UNDUE DELAY NOW IS MUCH MORE LIKELY TO GIVE RISE TO NEW PROBLEMS THAN IT IS TO RESULT IN ANY ADDITIONAL ADVANTAGE TO HONG KONG.
CONECONFIDENTIAL