TNAG-0146-FCO40-182-Exports-of-textiles-to-United-States-of-America-1969 — Page 42

CONFIDENTIAL

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2. IN OTHE LIGHT OF WASHINGTON'S ADVICE I PROPOSE TO RESPOND

IN WRITING, LESS BLUNTLY, AND IN CHANGED SEQUENCE, AS FOLLOWS:

PARAGRAPHS 9 TO 13, 8,5 TO 7, THEN INSERT IN THE LIGHT OF

THE FOREGOING, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SEES NO GOOD GROUNDS AT

THIS TIME FOR THE DEROGATION FROM ITS GATT RIGHTS THAT WOULD

BE IMPLIED BY ACCEPTANCE OF THE U.S.G.'S PROPOSAL TO ENTER INTO

NEGOTIATIONS FOR A COMPREHENSIVE BILATERAL AGREEMENT ON MAN-MADE

AN) WOOLLEN FIBRE TEXTILES." THEN PARAGRAPH 2 PRECEDED BY

**HOWEVER**, THEN PARAGRAPH 3, THEN FINAL PARAGRAPH AS FOLLOWS:

CONSEQUENTLY, WHILE, IN THE LIGHT OF PARAGRAPH 2, THE HONG KONG

GOVERNMENT IS, OF COURSE, PREPARED TO RESUME THE EARLIER INFORMAL

DISCUSSIONS OF THE GENERAL SITUATION, THEY BELIEVE THAT IT

WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIMATE IF SUCH DISCUSSIONS WERE RELATED TO ANY

PARTICULAR MAN-MADE OR WOOLLEN FIBRE PRODUCT THAT THE U.S.G.

BELIEVES TO BE CAUSING OR THREATENING TO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY.

SUCH DISCUSSIONS COULD BE HELD BETWEEN U.S. AND H.K. OFFICIALS

IN GENEVA IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 13 OCTOBER 1969".

F C O PASS IMMEDIATE TO U K MISSION GENEVA, WASHINGTON AND PRIORITY TO OTHERS.

SIR D. TRENCH

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION

H.K. DEFT.

AMERICAN DEPT.

COMMODITIES DEFT.

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Com

CONFIDENTIAL

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

COPY TO:

H.K. GOVT. OFFICE MR. SELLERS

54 PALL MALL

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