TNAG-0167-FCO40-203-Exports-of-textiles-to-United-Kingdom-1969 — Page 182

COMMITTEE OF PRIL

COUNCIL

FROM THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY

BOARD OF TRADE

1 VICTORIA STREET

LONDON S.W.1

ABBEY 7877

(16

18th December 1968.

Dear Carter,

In Shaun Stewart's absence in Manchester I enclose our

draft reply to the despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong to

your Secretary of State about the outcome of the negotiations

on Hong Kong's exports of wide cotton sheeting and sheets to

the United Kingdom.

2.

I should add that we very much regret that it has taken

so long to produce this draft but it has required a good deal of

consideration here and I suggest that, if you wish to depart

significantly from the terms of the draft, it would be useful

if those concerned could meet to discuss the issues.

3. As you will see, we have not attempted to deal seriatim with

the points that the Governor made on the legal issues and the

interpretation of the cotton textiles arrangement. We have taken

the view that there seems little to be gained from attempting to

argue over these contentious issues and we hope that the enclosed

draft will be sufficient to meet the Governor's concern over the

primary issues.

Yours war,

Arkemmis.

0.H.Kemmis

W.S.Carter Esq., C..0., Foreign/Commonwealth Office, Downing Street, S.W.1.