TNAG-0167-FCO40-203-Exports-of-textiles-to-United-Kingdom-1969 — Page 185

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significant relief to,

the domestic industry, you (4 the Indian cranium)

we were

obliged to press the Hong Kong (and Indian) Government

to accept substantial cuts in their exports of sheets We did we crack dia taoluna, Although there cannot be

and sheetings to us.

haps

absolute certainty on the point, I shall be surprised

if it does not turn out that the request we have made

and which you have accepted is exceptional; it may

even prove to be unique, if, to quote the graphic

phrase once used by Mr. Ord-Johnstone, the "ghastly

and unforeseen cireumstances are not repeated.

6.

21.

I have one point of detail to make on your paragraph

The Aide Memoire did not allow for any growth

in the new sheeting and sheet categories and no

concession was offered in the course of the negotiations.

However, the Board of Trade representative subsequently

decided to offer 3 per cent growth for 1970 in return for

an immediate standstill on the issue of export

authorisations.

This offer was communicated to the

An

leader of the Hong Kong Delegation, who, I understand,

had accepted it as part of the package to be put

before the Cotton Advisory Board. We had not

previously allowed any growth for Portugal, nor did

we subsequently allow any growth for India, so that

in the circumstances I regret that there can be no

question of our allowing any growth above 3 per cent

for Hong Kong.

7. I confirm that the revised quota levels set out

in the enclosure to your dispatch are in accordance

with our understanding. We shall be in touch with

the Hong Kong office in London as to signature of a

memorandum of understanding.

18th December 1968.