TNAG-0244-FCO40-280-Exports-of-textiles-from-Hong-Kong-to-USA-1970 — Page 216

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2

3. IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE UNION CAN BE DISSUADED FROM ITS

PRESENT ATTITUDE TOWARDS IMPORTS BUT LABOUR COUNSELLOR WILL

ENDEAVOUR TO USE THE OCCASION TO REPEAT OUR VIEWS ON THE WIDER

ISSUE OF THE DANGERS OF RESTRAINT ON TRADE: WE FEEL IT IS NOT

FOR HONG KONG TO JUSTIFY ITS PRACTICE BUT RATHER FOR THOSE WHO

WANT TO RESTRAIN IMPORTS TO JUSTIFY INTERFERING WITH HONG KONG'S

NATUREAL RIGHT TO TRADE. IT IS UNDERSTOOD, HOWEVER, THAT WORKING

CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG HAVE RECENTLY BEEN UNDER CONSIDERATION

AND IF THERE ARE ANY DEVELOPMENTS WHICH OVERSEAS LABOUR ADVISER

OR HONG KONG FEEL MIGHT USEFULLY BE MENTIONED TO THE UNION

ESPECIALLY IN REFUTATION OF QUOTE SWEATSHOP UNQUOTE ALLEGATIONS)

PERHAPS THEY WOULD COMMENT URGENTLY AND BY NOON OUR TIME ON

2 FEBRUARY AT LATEST.

FCO PASS IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

MR.

FREEMAN

[ADVANCE COPIES SENT AS REQUESTED SENT TO D.C.C. FOR MIN TECH]) [REPEATED AS REQUESTED].

[NOTE BY COMMS DEPT. WASHINGTON REGRET DELAY

OF THIS TELEGRAK].

INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION:

HONG KONG DEPT

AMERICAN DEPT

O.L.A.

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