TNAG-0386-FCO40-432-Exports-of-non-cotton-textiles-from-Hong-Kong-to-the-EEC-1973 — Page 101

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extended to Germany.

This offer has not, unfortunately, been

forthcoming in time for the next meeting of the Textiles

Committee in Brussels on 16 March (Hong Kong telegram No 297).

Mr Jones will take the point up again on his return to Hong

Kong at the end of the week.

4.

Despite this setback the DTI have agreed that our position

at the meeting on 16 March should be:

5.

a.

b.

C.

we will agree to give the Commission a mandate to

negotiate with Hong Kong for restraints on exports

of specific non-cotton textiles which are causing

disruption in particular markets. With such a mandate

the Commission could start talking to Hong Kong about

any Netherlands' problems immediately;

we would have no objection to the mandate also putting

on to a Community-wide basis any restraints on specific

non-cotton textiles which already exist in all 9 Member

countries;

we will not agree to a mandate which either provides

for the extension to all Member countries of restraints

which currently apply only in some or requires the

automatic application in all Member countries of new

restraints which may be negotiated because problems

exist in certain countries.

I think we have held the position for the time being. The

DTI will be replying to Hong Kong telegram No 297. We will

review the situation in the light of the results of the Brussels

/meeting

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