TNAG-0304-FCO40-340-Effects-of-tariffs-on-imports-of-cotton-textiles-to-UK-from--1971 — Page 124

Mr Hale (Commodities Dept)

1.

wilt 146,

I received last night my copy of Miss Welch's letter to you of 13 December about the telegram from the various textile and garment associations in Hong Kong. I see that this telegram arrived on 7 December, the second day of our talks with the Hong Kong delegation last week, and I am surprised that we have not been told about it earlier.

2. In my view (and Mr Wilford agrees) we cannot just ignore the telegram - as suggested by the DTI. We think that a reply should be sent as soon as possible explaining that the telegram arrived during our talks with the Hong Kong delegation, that as they will know it has been agreed that further talks should be held in the week beginning 10 January 1972 and that during those further talks the Minister will of course have Hong Kong's interests as a major supplier of cotton textiles to the British market very much in mind.

15 December 1971

A

E O Laird

Hong Kong Department