TNAG-0300-FCO40-336-Entitlement-of-Hong-Kong-to-generalized-tariffs-preferences--1971 — Page 21

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Mr Bottomley

Botto

This is to confirm that I shall bring Mr Cater to call on you in your room at 10 am tomorrow.

1.

2.

As you know, Mr Cater (accompanied by Mr Mills of the Hong Kong Commerce and Industry Department) is in London on his way to Washington for further talks with Ambassador Kennedy. Copies of the following telegrams are attached for reference:-

Hong Kong No 830 of 3 November

FCO to Washington No 2818 of 4 November Washington to Hong Kong No 85 of 5 November Hong Kong to Washington No 837 of 6 November

Mr Cater is leaving London for Washington about mid-day on Wednesday 10 November.

3. Mr Cater wishes primarily to explain to you the views that have been put forward in Hong Kong about the Hong Kong/US textiles agreement. He is also concerned about the proposals of the EEC Commission to exclude Hong Kong from the EEC's GPS in 1972 in respect of certain specified items. Copies of the telegrams dealing with this are also attached:-

235

239

Hong Kong to FCO No.806 of 25 October

2x8

250

UKDEL EEC Brussels to FCO No 370 of 25 October FCO to Hong Kong No 812 of 29 October

25.

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4.

ong Kong to FCÓ No 831 of 4 November CODEL Brussels to FCO No 941 of 5 November CODEL Brussels to FCO No 956 of 8 November

I have been in touch with Mr Hannay on the telephone and he thinks it most important that Hong Kong get into a dialogue with the Commission as quickly as possible, the object being to determine the reasons for the Commission's action.

5.

The third question which Mr Cater wishes to bring up is the Canadian decision to introduce controls on imports of shirts. The telegrams dealing with this are:-

Ottawa to FCO No 1030 of 21 October

Hong Kong to FCO No 826 of 2 November

I am also attaching a draft of the proposed reply to Hong Kong telegram No 826. This has been prepared in the DTI and something on these lines is likely to go off tonight or tomorrow at the latest.

CONFIDENTIAL

/6.