CONFIDENTIAL
CCTY FOR REGIOTIVATION
Cypher/Cat A
PRIORITY BRUSSELS TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Tel.No.5
3 January 1967.
له
CONFIDENTIAL
[NEUTRAL]
Following from Hong Kong Trade Office Brussels.
Begins
Addressed to Hong Kong telegram No.27 of 3 January Repeated for information to: The Hague Commonwealth Office anc U.K.Mission Geneva
Export of Cotton Woven Shirts to the Benelux Countries.
I have discussed the proposed text with Stolp and he said that the Dutch were reluctant to accept the word "agreed" in the second paragraph. This would imply specific agreement between two parties and thereby move away from the unilateral declaration. Stolp said that the text with the inclusion of the word "agreed" would raise difficulties for them in dealing with the Japanese who would immediately make an approach for some similar arrangement. He has how- ever agreed to my suggestion that there should be a full stop after the sentence ending "24th and 25th November 1966". That the words "as a result the Government o. Hong Kong should" should be deleted and the following substituted: "as a result the Government of Hong Kong will.." Perhaps you will let me know as soon as you can whether this change is acceptable to you.
Stolp informed me that the Benelux letter to the GATT will probably be agreed at a Benelux sub-committee meeting to be held on January 10th and that, thereafter, the text will be sent to the appropriate Belgian and Dutch permanent offices in Geneva. I understand that the final version of the Benelux text to the GATT will be prepared ir Geneva and that, for this reason, it will be difficult for the Hong Kong Government to have a prior sight of it for approval. Stolp has however undertaken to tell me when the Benelux draft is sent to Geneva from Brussels and perhaps it would be possible for Derek Jones to peruse it there. I will discuss this suggestion with Haddon-Cave.
Stolp informed me that instructions have already been issued by the Dutch Government to liberalise the trade in cotton woven shirts.
Because of the New Year holiday I have so far not been able to obtain de Theulegoet's agreement to the changed wording given above and I may not be able to talk to him until after I have returned from Paris.
Ends.
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- 4 JAN.957
ARCHIVES No.62
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