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not
quotas. We argued that many orders would not be
accommodated.
Nevertheless we said that if HMG
decided that in principle we could allow any excess
licensing for pre-existing orders, we would give
sympathetic consideration to Hong Kong's claims.
6.
Kong.
We said we were also prepared to discuss with
British industry and the EEC, and thereafter to submit
for Ministerial approval, certain amendments and
modifications to our Cotton Textile Agreement with Hong
Although these modifications would not have
given Hong Kong a bigger quota, either in aggregate or
in specific products, they would have permitted
greater flexibility in transfer between categories.
We also offered to redefine garment quota headings to
bring them more into line with Hong Kong's agreement
with the EEC (again a method allowing greater
flexibility to Hong Kong).
17. Mr Haddon-Cave agreed with these proposals but his
trade advisers did not. The Matter is to be considered
by the various Hong Kong bodies, including the Executive
Council.
8. We hope that on reflection Hong Kong will realise
the really big effort we made to reach a solution;
that they will accept that the greater flexibility
for their trade contained in our proposals (which will
enable them to export more in categories which interest
them most) will cause them to accept the package we
have offered. It is extremely doubtful that we could
get agreement in Whitehall to any significant
improvement of our offer.
DEN
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