TNAG-0304-FCO40-340-Effects-of-tariffs-on-imports-of-cotton-textiles-to-UK-from--1971 — Page 158

130B

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER/CAT A

FM FCO G81759Z

CONFIDENTIAL

(COMMODITIES)

CONFIDENTIAL

NEUTRAL

DESKBY 999831Z

TO IMMEDIATE GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 915 OF 8 DECEMBER.

MIPT: COTTON TEXTILES.

FOLLOWING 19 TEXT OF STATEMENT TO THE PRESS.

A DELEGATION OF HONG KONG OFFICIALS LED BY MR C.P. HADDON-CAVE, FINANCIAL SECRETARY HELD DISCUSSIONS ON 6/7 DECEMBER WITH MR ANTHONY ROYLE, PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, AND MR ANTHONY GRANT, PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRADE AND FCO AND DTI OFFICIALS ABOUT THE BRITISH COVERNMENT'S DECISION TO RETAIN THE EXISTING SYSTEM OF QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTION ON IMPORTS OF COTTON YARN AND WOVEN COTTON TEXTILES FROM HONG KONG AND OTHER CURRENTLY RESTRICTED COUNTRIES. THE HONG KONG OFFICIALS VISITED LONDON AT THE INVITATION OF HG. THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS HAVE AGREED TO FURTHER TALKS BEGINNING ON 10 JANUARY 1972 IN ORDER TO EXAMINE IN MORE DETAIL THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE DECISION FOR HONG KONG'S TRADE IN COTTON TEXTILES

WITH THE UK.

DOUGLAS-HOME

INTERNAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION

COMMODITIES

HKD

NEWES

GIPD

CONFIDENTIAL