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CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE GOVERNOR HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 784
CONFIDENTIAL
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
6 OCTOBER 1969
CONFIDENTIAL NEUTRAL/
ADDRESSED FCO AS MYTEL. NO. 784 OF 6TH OCTOBER RFI WASHINGTON, UKMIS GENEVA AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT LONDON OFFICE.
YOUR TELEGRAM 670.
U.S. REQUEST FOR CONSULTATIONS ON MMF AND WOOL TEXTILES.
WHILE I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR THE INDICATION OF SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG THAT YOUR APPROACH WOULD GIVE TO THE AMERICANS, I AGREE WITH PARA. 3 OF WASHINGTON TEL. 63 TO ME, THE MORE PARTICULARLY AS THEY HAVE BEEN DEALING DIRECT WITH US ON THESE MATTERS FOR MANY YEARS. I FEAR ALSO THAT, IF WASHINGTON SPOKE ON THE LINES YOU PROPOSE, THE AMERICANS WOULD AT ONCE ENQUIRE WHETHER THE COROLLARY WAS THAT THEY SHOULD ADDRESS YOU EXCLUSIVELY ON ALL MATTERS AFFECTING THEIR TRADE WITH HONG KONG. THEY, THROUGH THEIR CONSULATE HERE, WILL BE WELL AWARE OF THE DIFFICULTIES THIS WOULD CAUSE ME AND WOULD NOT SCRUPLE TO GET THE MAXIMUM ADVANTAGE AND
CAUSE THE MAXIMUM EMBARRASSMENT TO US BOTH. THERE IS ALSO THE IMPORTANT POINT MADE IN MY TELEGRAM 782 ON NORWEGIAN NEGOTIATIONS.
2.
PARAGRAPH 5 OF WASHINGTON TELEGRAM 60 TO ME. I DOUBT IF IT
WOULD BE PRACTICABLE TO CONCERT ANSWERS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES
CONCERNED. IF ANY HINT OF SUCH CONCERT WERE TO LEAK, WOULD NOT THIS BE USEFUL AMMUNITION TO NEHMER AND CO.? BUT I AGREE THAT THE
OTHERS SHOULD BE KEPT INFORMED (AS I HAVE PROPOSED IN MY TELEGRAM 781), IF ONLY TO PREVENT SUCCESSFUL MISREPRESENTATION OF ONE TO
ANOTHER BY COMMERCE DEPARTMENT.
3a PARA. 6 OF SAME TELEGRAM. AMBASSADOR IS CLEARLY BETTER PLACED
THAN US TO ASSESS CHANCES OF SUCCESS OF TOTAL RESISTANCE, BUT I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT, WHILE ONLY ONE (OR TWO WHEN SORBY HAS
/SPOKEN
REGISTRY No.51 -6OCT 1969
HIKE/3041
'CONFIDENTIAL
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