TNAG-0301-FCO40-337-Effects-of-tariffs-on-imports-of-cotton-textiles-to-UK-from--1971 — Page 117

PRIORITY

CYPLR/CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.51

18

161637Z

CONFIDENTIAL

NEUTRAL

pa

"Кыз

1771

HICK 6/548/3

TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO 221 OF 16/3

YOUR TELEGRAM NO 159

COTTON TEXTILES - POST 1971 ARRANGEMENTS

1. WE SHALL BE SENDING YOU A FULL REPLY TO YOUR SAVING DESPATCH NO 28 SHORTLY. MEANWHILE IN VIEW OF YOUR

REETING WITH THE TAB YOU MAY FIND. THE FOLLOWINC POINTS HELPFUL. 2. AS ALL CONCERNED HAVE HAD MORE THAN 2 YEARS TO STUDY THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE INTRODUCTION OF A TARIFF FROM 1 JANUARY 1972 AND AS A POSTPONEMENT OF THE CHANGE WOULD INTRODUCE UNCERTAINTIES ABOUT OUR FUTURE POLICY ON COTTON TEXTILES WHICH THE 1969 ANNOUNCEMENT WAS INTENDED TO REMOVE, IT WOULD NOT BE PRACTICAL TO DEFER THE INTRODUCTION OF TARIFFS ON THE DUE DATE, FOR SIMILAR. REASONS THERE IS NO SCOPE FOR A PHASED INTRODUCTION OF THESE

DUTIES AFTER 1 JANUARY 1972,

3. WE ARE STILL URGENTLY LOCKING INTO THE COMPLEX LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS RAISED BY YOUR REQUEST IN RESPECT OF THE DUTIES PAYABLE ON GOODS SHIPPED WITHIN THE 1971 QUOTA WHICH DO NOT ARRIVE UNTIL AFTER 31 DECEMBER 1971. WE REALISE THAT YOUR EXPORTERS NEED TO MAKE THEIR SHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS WELL IN ADVANCE. WE ARE

缃

DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO OBTAIN AN EARLY DECISION ON THIS AND ON OTHER TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS.

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