number of trading arrangements and agreements into which Hong Kong enters in terms of the LEA I do not consider it necessary or practicable for the terms of every such arrange- ment or agreement to be scrutinised in London before it is concluded and can be registered if necessary under Article 102 of the United
Nations Charter. Provided, therefore, that you are satisfied that the conclusion of any LTA arrangement does not jeopardise the interests of Her Majesty's Government or commit Her Majesty's Government to undertakings for which their prior agreement should, in your view, be obtained, I confirm that there will be no objection to the inclusion in the
preamble to such arrangements of a statement to the effect that the Government of Hong Kong or administrative department concerned is acting with the authority and consent of Her Majesty's Government.
5. Turning now to non-cotton textiles, it is necessary to devise arrangements satisfying two criteria, viz: (1) the Government of Hong Kong can reach such agreements on non-cotton textiles as they wish with other Governments, and (ii) Her Majesty's Government will not find themselves prejudiced in pursuing their own commercial policies by the fact that they will be regarded as having jeopardised their own. position by authorising the Government of Hong Kong to reach such agreements. As regards international gatherings at which non-cotton textiles may be discussed, I hope that, as in the Cotton Textiles Committee,
arrangements can be worked out on the spot whereby the expression of conflicting views can uɛually be avoided,
6.
Apart from the international aspects, this delegation of authority will have to be defensible to the United Kingdom textile industry. As regards quantitative restric- tions, Her Majesty's Government will,
/therefore ...
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