CONFIDENTIAL
-2
(11) BY CHAIRMAN :-
(A)
CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION WAS THAT HMG WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR
HONG KONG'S EXTERNAL RELATIONS.
(B) HONG KONG COULD NOT EXPECT CARTE BLANCHE, 1.E. REGARDLESS OF BRITISH POLICY AND INTERESTS.
(C) YOUR REFUSAL OF AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE NOW WAS NOT FINAL BUT PENDING YOUR CONSIDERATION OF POLICY ISSUES AND THERE WAS STILL TIME FOR FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU TO REACH ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION
BEFORE CURRENT RESTRAINTS EXPIRE ON 30 SEPTEMBER.
(D) PUBLICITY IN HONG KONG WOULD PREJUDICE THIS.
(E) HE MUST INSIST THAT THIS DISCUSSION REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL. (F) THAT HE BELIEVED HONG KONG'S BEST INTERESTS LAY IN CONTINUING OUR EFFORTS TO REACH AGREEMENT WITH YOU.
4. MEMBERS THEN REQUESTED A RECESS, DURING WHICH THEY DISCUSSED VARIOUS COURSES OF ACTION IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE. THE DISCUSSION WAS HEATED AND VARIOUS EXTREME COURSES WERE PROPOSED, MEETING WAS THEN RESUMED AND THE MEMBERS UNANIMOUSLY PUT TWO POINTS TO THE
CHAIRMAN #-
A) HMG SHOULD BE ASKED TO CLARIFY PRECISELY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S POSITION WITH REGARD TO AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT NEGOTIATIONS ON TEXTILE PROBLEMS.
(B) FAILING A SATISFACTORY AND CLEAR-CUT REPLY FROM HMG, THE CHAIRMAN SHOULD SEEK PERMISSION FOR MEMBERS TO DISCUSS THE MATTER WITH TRADE ASSOCIATIONS AND TO MAKE IT PUBLIC THAN THURSDAY, 21 AUGUST.
NOT LATER
5. JORDAN AGAIN WENT OVER THE POINTS IN PARAGRAPH 3(1) ABOVE, BUT MEMBERS' ONLY CONCESSION WAS TO EXTEND THE TIME LIMIT TO 10 - 14 DAYS. THEY WENT ON TO SAY THAT TIMING WAS IMPORTANT SINCE CANADIANS WERE HERE NOW AND SOMETHING WOULD HAVE TO BE SAID SOON. IF WE MADE MISTAKES IN OUR NEGOTIATIONS, THE BOARD WAS PREPARED TO FACE THE CONSEQUENCES SEMICOLON BUT WHO WOULD FACE THEM IF HMG WAS RESPOSSIBLE ? PROHIBITIVE SURCHARGES HAD ALREADY BEEN IMPOSED ON
KOREA AND MALAYSIA.
6. FURTHERMORE, THE TRADE ASSOCIATIONS EXPECTED IF NECESSARY TO BE CONSULTED DURING NEGOTIATIONS AND CERTAINLY INFORMED OF THE OUTCOME
/IMMEDIATELY
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CONFIDENTIAL
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