TNAG-0162-FCO40-198-Export-of-textiles-to-Norway-and-Sweden-1969 — Page 171

questions to which I do not know the answer.

4. It seems to me that what we ought to say

to Hong Kong, tactfully of course, is that

with so noticeable an international trend

towards Import Restrictions on textiles in

the non-cotton field (illustrated by the

sequence of concessions to Germany, Canada,

Sweden, now the Norwegians, and possibly in

the future again the Germans; to say nothing

of the threatening noises I understand

X Nickson, as Presidential Candidate in the

States, has been making about regulating the

trade in man-made fibres and blends), unless

they resist pressure for import restrictions

rather more firmly than they have done in the

pasty

Here will inevitably be a temptation

"

on the trade in Britain to attempt the same

sort of restriction on Hong Kong imports

into this country. We possibly have a clearer

M

Ow

idea of the strength of north country

political pressures than they have in Hong

Kong, but I wonder if we improve our case by

talking about the "diversion" of trade. I

would expect to be told if we used this

term that neither the U.K. textiles trade nor

anyone else could prove the diversion of

trade from one country to another as such.

There might be a coincidental increase of

imports from Hong Kong into the U.K. following

a restriction on imports into another

country. But any request from U.K.

manufacturers to restrict Hong Kong imports

could really only arise from the greater

competitiveness of Hong Kong manufacturers

and I think that Hong Kong ought to be told wome

(whether there is already any

any political

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