XN000022-1979-01-19 — Page 5

FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 1979

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U.S.-HK TEXTILE TALKS TO CONTINUE

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THE CONSULTATIONS WHICH BEGAN ON JANUARY 15 BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND HONG KONG DELEGATIONS HELD UNDER THE TERMS OF THE BILATERAL TEXTILE AGREEMENT WERE ADJOURNED TODAY (FRIDAY).

IN A JOINT STATEMENT AMBASSADOR M. SMITH, U.S. CHIEF NEGOTIATOR FOR TEXTILE MATTERS, AND MR. LAWRENCE MILLS, THE HONG KONG DIRECTOR OF TRADE, SAID THAT THE TWO SIDES HAD DISCUSSED A NUMBER OF THINGS RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BILATERAL AGREEMENT AND WILL NOW REPORT TO THEIR RESPECTIVE GOVERNMENTS.

THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD ALSO AGREED TO CONTINUE THE CONSULTATIONS AT AN EARLY DATE, PROBABLY IN MID-MARCH,

THE TWO NEGOTIATORS EXPLAINED THAT SINCE THE MATTERS RAISED WERE BEING CONSIDERED BY THE TWO GOVERNMENTS, THEY COULD NOT, AT THIS STAGE, GIVE FURTHER DETAILS.

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