TNAG-0303-FCO40-339-Effects-of-tariffs-on-imports-of-cotton-textiles-to-UK-from--1971 — Page 91

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER/CAT A

FM F C O 291850Z

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED INENTIAL

REGISTRY No.51

NOV 1971

1CK6/548/2

TO IMMEDIATE GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO 895 OF 29 NOVEMBER.

YOUR TELEGRAM NO 890

PERSONAL FOR MACLEHOSE FROM MONSON.

#

(HK)

195

1. YOUR POINT (B) EXECUIVE COUNCIL, TIMING IS MOST AWKWARD.

MATTER WILL BE TAKEN BY MINISTERS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL AT 11.30

HOURS GMT ON 30 NOVEMBER. WE DO NOT KNOW WHICH WAY THE DECISION

WILL GO AND WE DO NOT WANT TO PRE-JUDGE IT. IF DECISION SHOULD GO

THE WRONG WAY OUR MINISTERS WILL PRESS AS A HINIMUM FOR MAXIMUM

TIME FOR CONSULTATION.

2. IN CIRCUMSTANCES WE THINK YOU MIGHT GIVE A HINT TO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF WHAT IS IN THE WIND. YOU MIGHT SAY THAT, AS THEY MAY HAVE SEEN IN THE PRESS, THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY IN LANCASHIRE HAS MADE REPRESENTATIONS TO HMG ABOUT THE HIGH LEVEL OF IMPORTS OF COTTON TEXTILES AND (IN STRICTEST CONFIDENCE) THAT THIS HAS LED TO STRONG PRESSURE ON MINISTERS TO LOOK AGAIN AT THE UK'S POLICY IN THIS FIELD. HNG HAVE OF COURSE HONG KONG'S INTEREST AS A MAJOR SUPPLIER VERY MUCH IN MIND. IF ASKED WHETHER HONG KONG WILL BE CONSULTED YOU MAY SAY THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY PRESSED THIS POINT.

DOUGLAS-HOME

FILES

COMMODITIES D

HKD

TPD

EID (1)

EID (2)

SAD

FED

PS

PS/MR GODBER

PS/CDL

PS/LORD. LOTHIAN

PS/MR ROYLE

PS/MR KERSHAW

PS/PUS

SIR L MONSON

SIR S TOMLINSON

MR BOTTOMLEY

MR KEEBLE

MR WILFORD

CONFIDENTIAL