TNAG-0345-FCO40-381-UK-and-Hong-Kong-talks-on-cotton-textiles-1972 — Page 87

PRIORITY

CYPHER CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN REGISTR No. 41

27 JAR 1972

HKK 6/328/1

(HKD)

FM FCO 261900Z

CONFIDENTIAL.

TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 29 OF 26 JANUARY.

36

YOUR TEL. NO. 73% TEXTILES

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM WILFORD.

LAST

RE

36

NEX

RIF.

43

WE ARE LOOKING URGENTLY AT TEXTAB'S VIEWS IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE, BUT I REALLY SEE NO PROSPECT OF GETTING AN ANSWER TO YOU WITHIN A WEEK?' (1.E. BY 29 JANUARY). PUTTING A CASE TO THE DTI IS NO EASY THING, BECAUSE AS THEY SEE IT THE TALKS WERE BROKEN OFF BECAUSE YOUR OFFICIALS AND UNOFFICIALS WERE UNABLE TO AGREE ON A SOLUTION ACCEPTABLE TO THE OFFICIALS. THEY WILL NOT TAKE KINDLY TO A REQUEST TO RECONSIDER THEIR OFFER. HOEVER WE ARE NOT WITHOUT HOPE, BUT HE NEED MORE TIME. SURFLY THE DEADLINE IS THAT WE MUST TRY TO GET A REASONABLE PROPOSITION TO YOU WHICH YOU WILL HAVE TIME TO CONSIDER BEFORE THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S ARRIVAL, WHAT WE

WANT TO DO AT ALL COSTS IS TO AVOID SOURING THAT

»

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FILES

MID

COMMODITIES D PRIVATE SECRETARY

PS TO MR ROYLE

SIR L MONSON

MR BOTTOMLEY

MR KEEBLE

MR WILFORD

CONFIDENTIAL

i