TNAG-0304-FCO40-340-Effects-of-tariffs-on-imports-of-cotton-textiles-to-UK-from--1971 — Page 103

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20DEC 1971

Mr Hale (Commodities Dept)

TALKS WITH HONG KONG ABOUT COTTON TEXTILES

1. Mr Sellers telephoned this morning to say that he had been asked to book accommodation for the Hong Kong representatives who would be coming to London for these talks. He said that the team would be led by Kr Eric Ho who would be supported by Mr L WR Mills, an Assistant Director of Commerce and Industry and other officials not yet nominated. (Mesers llo and Mills were the leaders of the Hong Kong delegation which negotiated the bilateral agreement between Hong Kong and the USA on non-cottons.) Mr Sellers also said that the strongest possible delegation from the Textiles Advisory Board would be coming to London for the talks. They would not however attend the formal meetings. Mr Sellers gave me the following names -

Mr Y K Kan (He is the senior Unofficial Member

of the Legislative Council. He is also a member of the Executive Council.)

Mr G S Gordon (A British businessman and

Unofficial Member of the Executive Council.)

Mr Lam Kun-shing

Mr Francis Tien Yuan-hao

Mr Yang Yuan-loong

Mr Chow Shung kai

Mr Woo Ping

I am tol that this is the most high powered and influential group of businessmen with interests in textiles the Colony could send abroad for talks of this kind.

2.

This makes it all the more important that the DTI should do their homework properly and that we should seek ways in which to soften the impact of our decision to have quotas as well as the tariff.

16 December 1971

Сс Mr Logan

Sir L Monson Mr Wilford

E O Laird

Hong Kong Department