TNAG-0153-FCO40-189-Exports-of-cotton-textiles-to-Canada-1969 — Page 90

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have been achieved in Ottawa.

We did, in fact,

consider whether to make specific representations

which might have had the effect of stopping the

but

departure of the Canadian team and decided agains

it, partly because I at leaor, Hought that

would

be eve

unwelco

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8

I can well understand your doubts about

whether Whitehall are really acting in your

interests (paragraph 6 of your telegram No. 652)

(your conclusim

and the treat that you will have no alternative

treat

but to request a full review of the relationships

between us on matters affecting Hong Kong trade

with third parties.

I hope that we will not

come to this for I think that such a confrontation

There is

would not be helpful to either of us.

toy the Board of Trade

C

ym.

car hain virtue For not hang the position refinal too clearly, for example

150

example, I have been told that the "correct Si

Bound of Trate would likes procedure" is that

(a) meetings between Hong Kong and foreign ev

delegations do not take place without

the authority of H.M.G.;

(b) H.M.G. have always been represented at

(c)

any meeting of substance; and

negotiating briefs have always been.

discussed in advance with the Board of

Trade.

am preltip sure that

not

I rather doubt whether you would/subscribe to

d/

these sentiments, but they represent the basis

on which some people believe that your policy

should be worked out. I have asked if there

are any clearly set down rules as the basis on

which Hong Kong conducts its trade negotiations,

Whito it would

but I have not so far found any

Heat one in the see the correct

Comm onurealth

Jacert

defined

something

like this:

(X

stage

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