TNAG-0172-FCO40-208-United-Kingdom-Productivity-and-Efficiency-Study-effect-on-H-1969 — Page 189

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4. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS ON THE LIKELY IMPACT ON HONG KONG'S INTERESTS OF THE IMPOSITION OF A DUTY (POSSIBLY WITH THE RETENTION OF QUOTAS AT LEAST FOR A TRANSITIONAL PERIOD) AND FOR YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE LIKELY REACTION BOTH IN THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY AND IN HONG KONG GENERALLY.

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5. THIS WILL OBVIOUSLY BE A VERY SENSITIVE ISSUE IN HONG KONG AND WE WOULD NOT WISH TO CAUSE SPECUALTION. OUR PRESENT REQUEST FOR YOUR ASSESSMENT IS ONLY A PRELIMINARY ENQUIRY DESIGNED TO ASSIST US IN FORMING AN FCO VIEW, AND FOR THIS PURPOSE WE HAVE ALSO ASKED POSTS IN INDEPENDENT COMMONWEALTH COUNRTIES FOR THEIR ASSESSMENTS. WITHOUT THEIR YET CONSULTING THE OGOVERNMENTS CONCERNED.

WE SHOULD THEREFORE BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD AT THIS STAGE HOLD ONLY LIMITED CONSULTATIONS WITH SUCH SENIOR OFFICIALS AS YOU CONSIDER TO BE NECESSARY.

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STEWART

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COMMODITIES DEPT. HONG KONG DEPT.

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