TNAG-0345-FCO40-381-UK-and-Hong-Kong-talks-on-cotton-textiles-1972 — Page 89

CONFIDENTIAL

3. On the substance of the matter, I myself cannot see any

difficulty over the point made in paragraph 2 of Hong Kong

telegram No 72 (when I discussed this briefly with Mr Ridley

on the telephone earlier this week he more or less agreed

that we could give this assurance). Paragraph 3 of the

telegram (up swing from Group II or Group III to Group IV)

is clearly more difficult, but I would have thought we might

try for a compromise between 4.6 million square yards and

10 million square yards. I suspect that the point in

paragraph 4 will be the most difficult of all for the DTI

to accept.

4. In pressing the DTI to consider moving a little further

towards the Hong Kong position Mr Royle would, I think,

have to base his case quite simply on the fact that Hong Kong

is a Crown Colony.

5.

Mr Royle may wish to write to Sir John Eden on the

lines of the attached draft.

agreed with Mr Hale.

Its terms have been broadly

Eɣana

E O Laird

Hong Kong Department

26 January 1972

tre must make

the fullest possible

cc

Mr Bottomley

Mr Keeble

Mr Hale

use of the Soft's visit KHK

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and the need

urrecked.

2.

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CONFIDENTIAL

agree

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with the Draft.

tum Wilford 267

(885363) Dd. 896639 1,000M 8/71 St.S.

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