MV havist
Sir L Vonson
fur hathedra
30/12
1 Clawley (528
En
AL
TALKS WITH HONG KONG ABOUT COTTON TEXTILES
1.
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22
XiT
In my minute of 16 December I was recording what I had been told by Mr Sellers. In amplification or what he then said Mr Sellers had now told me that it is Hong Kong's normal practice in talks of this kind as it is the practice of the countries with which Hong Kong has negotiated bilateral agreements - not to have advisers present at plenary meetings. Sometimes it may be decided at a plenary meeting to set up a committee including advisers to discuss technical questions but most of the time the advisers work behind the scenes.
2. This does not mean that the advisers cannot exert pressure either on the Hong Kong team itself or on the opposition. During the recent negotiations in Washington Mr Cater did not attend the plenary meetings because he was there as Chairman of the Textiles Advisory Board. However he was kept fully in touch with developments and he and members of the Board had talks with Ambassador Kennedy and others.
3. It is possible that Hong Kong may decide to adopt different tactics on this occasion but Mr Sellers thinks this unlikely.
4. When we have confirmation from Hong Kong of these proposals of which Mr Sellers has given us advance notice we shall work out detailed arrangements for the talks including proposals for interviews with Ministers.
Maria
E O Laird
Hong Kong Department
17 December 1971
cc
Mr Logan
Mr Wilford
Mr Hale
I belive They
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Лизи
12/12/71
RECEIVLE #
REGISTRY No. $1 20DEC 1971
HKK 6/228/3
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