TNAG-0244-FCO40-280-Exports-of-textiles-from-Hong-Kong-to-USA-1970 — Page 215

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CYPHER/CAT A

IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON

TELEGRAM NO. 305

CONFIDENTIAL [NEUTRAL].

CONVIDENTIAL

TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

29 JANUARY 1970

ADDRESSED TO FCO TELEGRAM NO. 305 OF 29 JANUARY REPTD FOR INFMN

TO HONG KONG.

ADVANCE COPIES FOR FOGGON, DUNNETT AND NICOLL (BOARD OF TRADE), STEWART (MINTECH.

TEXTILE IMPORTS.

JACOB POTOFSKY, PRESIDENT OF THE AMALGAMATED CLOTHING WORKERS OF AMERICA (WHICH IS PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH MEN'S CLOTHING) HAS ASKED THE LABOUR COUNSELLOR TO MEET WITH HIM AND TWO SENIOR UNION OFFICIALS ON MONDAY, 2 FEBRUARY, TO HEAR THE UNION'S VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT OF HONG KONG IMPORTS TO THE U.S. THE UNION IS ONE OF THE FOUR WHICH TOOK ADVERTISING SPACE IN THE 'GUARDIAN', 'WASHINGTON POST' AND 'SOUTH CHINA POST' OF HONG KONG ON 27 JANUARY TO PUBLICISE AN APPEAL TO THE PRIME MINISTER TO QUOTE

NEGOTIATE A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF HONG KONG'S LOW WAGE

EXPORTS UNQUOTE TO THE U.S.

2. LABOUR COUNSELLOR PROPOSED THAT DISCUSSION SHOULD INCLUDE

COMMERCIAL DEPT COLLEAGUES BUT POTOFSKY SAID THEY WOULD PREFER

NOT. THEY APPARENTLY DO NOT WISH TO BECOME INVOLVED IN A DISCUSSION OF THE WIDER PROBLEM OF IMPORTS BUT SEEK ONLY ON THIS

CCCASION TO EXPLAIN TO LABOUR COUNSELLOR HOW THEIR MEMBERS ARE

BEING HURT BY HONG KONG IMPORTS.

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY M61 *20EB 1979

HKX6/304/1

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