TNAG-0146-FCO40-182-Exports-of-textiles-to-United-States-of-America-1969 — Page 128

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Hong Kon

United States

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2.

Washington telegram 2310

You told me on Friday that the F.C.0. were proposing to send a cable to Hong Kong asking thom to delay replying to any request from the U.S. authorities to engage in bilateral discussions on the textile problem.

3.

My understanding is that any such request should be put by the Americans to the United Kingdom" Government and I suggest that the United Statce Consul-Concral should be so informed when the formal request is made. If Hong Kong accepts the note and then tells the Americans to submit it to London it would make it appear that we had intervenød specially for that purpose, whereas our view is that the correct procedure in this and every other case is for H.M.G. to

And in my view it decido if and when consultations should begin. would be equally wrong for Hong Kong to reply on the point of substac

I suggest that dn this occasion wo need to take a grip on the situation from the outset, otherwise wo may find ourselves in difficulties.

ss.

S. STEWART, Ind. 1 Div.,

25th August 1969.

MR. .I. TUNNETS (CE1)

0.0. Mr. Fook (Sec.),

Mr. G.S. Whitehoad (FCO), Kiss Feloh,

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BIKK 6/304/1

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