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to Hong Kong, but, according to Hong Kong telegram No. 268 of 27 April, it arrived there only on 25 April after the Embassy in Stockholm had duly spoken to the Swedes.
7. Neither telegram No. 80 or No. 81 was cleared with Hong Kong Dept. before despatch; in fact, they were not seen in the Department for three days thereafter despite: efforts to obtain copies.
8. Since the Swedish delegation to the Hong Kong talks was due to leave Stockholm on 25 April, there was not time to ask the Governor of Hong Kong for his comments before instructing the Embassy in Stockholm to speak to the Swedish Government. It is unfortunate, however, that FCO telegram No. 81 took three days to reach Hong Kong since by then it was too late for any views from Hong Kong to reach Stockholm before the talk with the Swedish Government took place.
9.
The Governor of Hong Kong in his telegram No. 268 of 27 April expressed surprise at the Swedes having been approached on a matter involving Hong Kong without him being informed or consulted in advance. He further-felt that, as the Hong Kong authorities had themselves brought these talks forward from 1 June, it would be discourteous to the Swedes and dangerous to Hong Kong to enter the discussion other than on the basis of bona fide consultation with a possibility of agreed action. He also expressed disappointment that no policy had yet been agreed on how Hong Kong should deal with such problems. He further pressed for a settlement ad referendum to be reached during the current talks,
10. In his telegram No. 268 the Governor referred to negotiations with the Canadians in August 1969 and claimed that we had already endorsed the policy he now wishes to
adopt. This endorsement however covered the Canadian negotiations and the present case is by no means on all forms with the Canadian situation.
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11.
A telegram is now going from the Secretary of State to the Governor authorising him to negotiate but, in the case of non-cotton textiles, to refer to us before congluding any arrangement with the Swedes.
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1st May, 1970
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(G.F. Kinnear)
HONG KONG DEPARTMENT
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