IMMEDIATE
CYFIER CAT A
FM F.C.0. 26198BZ
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDERECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No. 51
19717
NICK 6/548/3
YOP GOP
TO IMMEDIATE GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM TUMBER 887 OF 26
NOVEMBER.
PERSONAL FOR MACLEHOSE FROM MONSON.
LABT
REF.
NEXT
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G3
38
1887
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1. THIS IS A WARNING TO YOU PERSONALLY THAT MINISTERS HERE HE BE
CONSIDERING VERY EARLY NEXT WEEK PROPOSALS THAT IN ADDITION TO TARIFF ON IMPORTS OF COTTON TEXTILES THE PRESENT QUANTITATIVE
RESTRICTIONS SHOULD BE MAINTAINED, THE PRESSURE FOR THIS COMES
FROM THE UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION IN THIS COUNTRY,
2. WE IN THE FCO HAVE BEEN BRIEFING OUR MINISTERS THAT HMG CANNOT
GO BACK ON STATEMENTS MADE, AMONG OTHERS TO HONG KONG THAT THE
QUOTAS WILL NOT BE MAINTAINED ONCE THE TARIFF HAD BEEN IMPOSED
FROM 1 JANUARY NEXT AND THAT WE SHOULD ONLY BE READY TO GIVE
FURTHER PROTECTION, AS WE ARE ENTITLED TO DO, IF TRADE WERE IN FACT
DISRUPTED AFTER THE QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS WERE WITHDRAWN. AS
A FALL BACK POSITION WE ARE URGING THAT THERE SHOULD BE AMPLE TIME
FOR CONSULTATION WITH MAJOR SUPPLIERS, INCLUDING OF COURSE HONG
KONG.
3. MINISTERIAL DECISION MAY WELL BE REACHED ON EVENING OF MONDAY
NEXT AND I FEAR THAT PENDING THAT DECISION WE CANNOT AUTHORISE
YOU TO SAY ANYTHING TO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OR TO TEXTILE ADVISORY
BOARD. YOU CAN RELY ON US TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR YOUR INTERESTS
EUT IF DECISION DOES GO AGAINST US 1 FEAR THAT WE MAY HAVE TO PUT
YOU INTO ACTION AT VERY SHORT NOTICE SINCE FOR PARLIAMENTARY
REASONS IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO ANNOUNCE MINISTERS' DECISION ON TUESDAY.
DOUGLAS-HOME
FILES
COMMODITIES D
HKD
TPD
EID (1)
EID (2)
SAD
FED
PS
PS/MR GODBER PS/LORD LOTHIAN
PS/MR ROYLE
PS/CDL
PS/FUS
PS/MR KERSHAW SIR L MONSON
SIR S TOMLINSON
MR BOTTOMLEY MR KEEBLE MR WILFORD
CONFIDENTIAL
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