TNAG-0243-FCO40-279-Conduct-of-Hong-Kong-commercial-relations-1973 — Page 190

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

W(B)L 51-7406

And for the leasons given peragraph 12

above

CONFIDENTIAL

23.14 Apart from the international aspects, such

a delegation of authority would have to be

defensible to the UK domestic textile industry. As regards quantitative restrictions we would

therefore have to be free to treat Hong Kong in non-cotton textile matters (a) in the same

way as we would treat any other supplier of such textiles, and (b) in the same way as any

other importer of such textiles treated imports

from Hong Kong following restraints conceded

by Hong Kong. We would, of course, act in respect of Hong Kong only in accordance with our normal liberal trading policies and our obligations both to GATT Par to Hong Kong

having regard to her particular status

vis-a-vio the United Kingdom.

For

Because of our responsibility for Hong Kong's international trading relations the Hong Kong Government would have to keep us informed about what they were doing. But we

would not normally expect to intervene. our part, we would continue to keep in the closest possible touch with the Hong Kong Government and would always be ready to support the Hong Kong Government where they sought help to secure their rights under international agreements.

to

15.66 It is our hope that the practice, now taken for granted in the Cotton Textiles Committee, will quickly come to be accepted

in meetings at which non-cotton textiles are

discussed. We think the change should come

into effect with as little publicity as possible. We propose, therefore, to explain the new arrangements to the Secretary General of GATT informally and to tell other interested

parties only when we think it necessary to

dissociate the United Kingdom from Hong Kong

policy.

17

16. We are satisfied that arrangements on

these lines will not lead us into difficulties

/ with the

...