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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1977
TEXTILE TEAM RETURNING TO HONG KONG ******
THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS MR. BILL DORWARD, SAID TODAY THAT, AS ANTICIPATED IN HIS STATEMENT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON THURSDAY, THE HONG KONG NEGOTIATING TEAM HAS NOW LEFT BRUSSELS AND WILL BE BACK IN HONG KONG TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AFTERNOON.
MR. DORWARD STRESSED THAT THIS DID NOT REPRESENT
A BREAK-OFF IN THE NEGOTIATIONS. THE EEC ANNOUNCED THE IR
INDEFINITE SUSPENSION ON NOVEMBER 8 AND THIS HAS PROVIDED A CHANCE FOR THE NEGOTIATORS TO RETURN FOR SOME REST AFTER FIVE WEEKS OF CONTINUOUS AND DEMANDING WORK.
+ IT WILL ALSO OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE TEAM TO ELABORATE IN PERSON ON THE MANY REPORTS THEY HAVE TELEGRAPHED AND TO DISCUSS THEM WITH THEIR COLLEAGUES IN HONG KONG.+
MR. DORWARD ADDED THAT THE TEAM WOULD BE READY TO RETURN TO BRUSSELS AT SHORT NOTICE AS SOON AS IT APPEARED THAT MEANINGFUL NEGOTIATIONS COULD BE RESUMED.
+THE PAUSE WILL, I TRUST, BE USED BY THE EEC TO REFLECT ON THEIR POSTION AND THE VERY REAL AND SUBSTANTIAL CONCESSIONS HONG KONG HAS ALREADY OFFERED.+
NOTE TO EDITORS:
THE NEGOTIATING TEAM HEADED BY MR. LAWRENCE MILLS WILL HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE UPON ARRIVAL AT KAI TAK AIRPORT AT 3.20 P.M. TOMORROW (SATURDAY).
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
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