TNAG-0530-FCO40-625-Trade-union-relations-in-Hong-Kong-industry-1975 — Page 11

CONFIDENTIAL

RECORD OF A MEETING BETWEEN THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY AND MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE TRADES UNION CONGRESS HELD AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ON MONDAY,

8 DECEMBER 1975 AT 4.30 PM

Present:-

The Rt Hon James Callaghan MP

Mr T Rowlands MP

Mr T McNally

Mr E AJ Fergusson

Mr H R G Hurst

Mr J L Jones MBE, Chairman of the International Committee

Mr J Gormley OBE

Mr T Jackson

Mr L Murray OBE

Mr T Parry OBE

Mrs CM Patterson OBE

Mr C T H Plant OBE

Miss A M Prime OBE Mr J H Slater

Mr JA Hargreaves Mr M Walsh

1.

Welcoming the delegation, Mr Callaghan referred to the value of these meetings and hoped they would become a regular feature. It was useful to have the TUC's reactions to problems of foreign policy. Mr Jones said his delegation appreciated the opportunity for this meeting and referred to the note prepared by the TUC on points they wished to discuss. (A copy of the TUC note is attached). There were, of course, points of special interest to the TUC such as Chile, Spain, Gibraltar, Greece and Britain's position in Europe. 2. Mr Callaghan said that there were four main themes in the present Government's approach to foreign relations. First, the worldwide commitment involved in keeping the peace as, for example, in the Middle East. Second, the need to support British trade and British exports. The upholding of democratic ideas was also important, as was the need for a dialogue with the poorest countries who were suffering from inflation and the increase in oil prices. One of the disquieting features which had come out of the recent Rambouillet summit meeting was the expectation that even if there was a continuous upward trend in the economic growth of the Western industrialised world (and this was a very big Tif') the poorest countries, including the smaller OECD countries, would be hard hit by balance of payments problems in 1976. Uncertainties remained after Rambouillet, particularly over the way in which the economies

/of West Germany

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CONFIDENTIAL

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