A2
CONFIDENTIAL
4 At the same time both Hong Kong and our colleagues concerned with overseas relations should realise that, in the absence of a move by Hong Kong towards the Dutch, we shall come under increasingly heavy pressure to fall in line with the Commission's proposals, and that as far as CT Division is concerned, we have no overriding reasons for resisting. Indeed, we risk damaging our prospects of getting what we want on other aspects of textile policy, especially free circulation, if we make ourselves too difficult and suspect with our partners on this issue. If Hong Kong are still thinking of arguing the toss they had better realise that we are in Brussels first and last to further the UK's interest, not Hong Kong's when the two do not coincide.
PW RIDLEY
CT DIVISION 15 March 1973
MT Rm 2018
834 4422 Ext 658
Page 105Page 106
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