TNAG-0153-FCO40-189-Exports-of-cotton-textiles-to-Canada-1969 — Page 111

CONFIDENTIAL

HONG KONG TELNO 661 TO FCO

~3~

IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. MEMBERS COULD NOT JUST TELL THEM NEG- OTIATIONS HAD BEEN ADJOURNED, AND REFUSE TO GIVE DETAILS, IF THERE WAS A RISK THAT YOU WOULD REFUSE TO AUTHORISE ANY NON-COTTON RESTRAINT AT ALL. IF THIS HAPPENED, AND SURCHARGES WERE IMPOSED, KILLING THE TRADE (AS THEY WOULD); TRADE ASSOCIATIONS AND THE PUBLIC WOULD REALISE THAT INFORMATION HAD BEEN WITHHELD AND THEY HAD HAD NO OPPORTUNITY TO ENDEAVOUR TO INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME. ALL CONFIDENCE IN THE BOARD WOULD THEN BE LOST,

FCO PLEASE PASS PRIORITY TO OTTAWA.

}

MR. BLACKWELL

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED

INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION

HONG KONG DEPT

FAR EASTERN DEPT

CONFIDENTIAL

HK Refs and 2018 textur

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION

HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL TRADE