TNAG-0153-FCO40-189-Exports-of-cotton-textiles-to-Canada-1969 — Page 119

CONFIDENTIAL

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4. 1 NOTE THAT MINISTERS ARE UNLIKELY TO TAKE POLICY DECISIONS

MUCH BEFORE MID-SEPTEMBER BUT THAT THEY MUST BE TAKEN BEFORE

HUGHES' TALKS IN OTTAWA. AS YOU ARE AWARE, HONG KONG'S EXPORT

TRADE IN TEXTILES IS, IN ABSOLUTE TERMS OF VALUE, APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO BRITAIN'S AND IS, OF COURSE, OF VERY MUCH GREATER

IMPORTANCE IN RELATION TO THE ECONOMY AND THE LIVELIHOOD

OF THE PEOPLE. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND SINCE THE EXISTING

CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND OPINION SEEMS UNLIKELY TO BE IMMEDIATELY RESOLVED, I MUST ASK THAT HONG KONG'S VIEWS BE FULLY HEARD BEFORE ANY POLICY PROPOSALS ARE PUT TO MINISTERS, AND FOR THIS PURPOSE I AM READY TO SEND AN APPROPRIATE OFFICER TO LONDON AT ANY TIME

REQUIRED.

FCO PLEASE PASS PRIORITY OTTAWA

SIR D. TRENCH

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION

HONG KONG DEPT

CONFIDENTIAL

ADVANCE COPIES SENT

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION HONG KONG:

INTERNATIONAL TRADE