TNAG-0345-FCO40-381-UK-and-Hong-Kong-talks-on-cotton-textiles-1972 — Page 102

PRIORITY

CYPHER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 223453Z

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

LAST

35

NEXT

REF.

4.2

TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 73 OF 22 JANUARY.

M.1.P.T.

FOR WILFORD

36

TOP Curi

RECEIVED IN

RGSTRY No. 51

2..

A 1972

AKX6/548/1

SEVERAL OF THE MORE EXPERIENCED MEMBERS OF THE TEXTILE ADVISORY

BOARD WERE STILL AWAY, AND THE BOARD WAS SOMEWHAT DOMINATED BY

GORDON'S BLUSTER. A FULL BOARD COULD NOT BE ASSEMBLED FOR

ANOTHER WEEK OR 10 DAYS.

2. BUT AS I SEE IT THE BASIC DIFFICULTY IS NOT SO MUCH PERSONALITIES

AS THE INADEQUACY OF THE DTI OFFER. WHILE I APPLAUD HADDON-CAVE'S

PUBLIC SPIRITED ATTEMPT, FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE, TO SELL IT TO THE DELEGATION, THIS DOES NOT ALTER THE FACT OF ITS INADEQUACY.

3. ONCE THE FULL BOARD IS AVAILABLE THERE IS A FAIR CHANCE THAT

THE MATTER COULD BE DISPOSED OF IF THE DTI WERE PREPARED TO GO

HALF WAY TO THE POSITION SET OUT IN MY IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING

TELEGRAM, BUT LITTLE UNLESS THEY DO.

4. IF YOU CAN LET ME HAVE AN IMPROVED OFFER WITHIN A WEEK

THERE WOULD STILL BE TIME TO GO BACK TO THE BOARD AND GET THIS

SETTLED BEFORE THE S OF S VISIT.PENDING CUR RESPONSE NO DEFINITIVE

ACTION WILL BE TAKEN IN EX-CO.

FCO PASS COPY TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON,

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HKD

COMMOD D

P3

PS TO MR RCYLE

MR BOTTOMLEY

CIR L MONSON MR WILFORD MK KLEBLE

COPIES TO:

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE,

54 PALL MALL, SW1

CONFIDENTIAL