TNAG-0628-FCO40-776-Effect-of-GATT-Multi-Fibre-Arrangement-on-Hong-Kong-negotiat-1977 — Page 48

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11

HOFO 021/21

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RR D T 1

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135

CYPHER/CAT A

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FM BTC HONG KONG 210553Z

RESTRICTED

EN VED IN

51

REGI

22 JUL1977

21/616/1

HKK 121/66/1

Whitten

TO ROUTINE DTI TELNO.CREDA 110 OF 21 JULY,

INFO F.C.0.

FOR ROBERTS, CRE4.

NO DISTRIBUTION

20. соброт

K129

HKGD

TREO

2

Are we writing toh march?

1. du uplo

тел

I am misting

to you about

ん

2. büler

Hair.

DIM

24/7.

1. WE WERE ASKED YESTERDAY BY THE LOCAL MANAGER OF THE BUYING

OFFICE OF A U.K FIRM HMPORTING GARMENTS FROM HONG KONG WHETHER THE U.K WAS LIKELY TO INTRODUCE AT SOME STAGE A TEXTILE GLOBAL QUOTA SYSTEM IN PLACE OF EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS WITH HONG KONG. HIS

READING OF LOCAL PRESS REPORTS IS THAT FRANCE MAY BE MOVING IN

THIS DIRECTION AND THE U.K MIGHT FOLLOW.

2. IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY GUIDANCE (SEE MY LETTERS OF 6 AND 8 JULY)

WE ARE COMPLETELY UNABLE TO FIELD QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE MFA. MAY WE THEREFORE HAVE ADVICE ON LINE TO TAKE WITH THIS ENQUIRY

AND A GROWING SPATE OF INFORMAL QUESTIONING ARISING FROM UNCERTAINTY

ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE LOCAL TEXTILE INDUSTRY AND CONFUSION CAUSED BY WHAT APPEARS TO US AS ONE SIDED LOCAL PRESS REPORTING

OF THE MFA NEGOTIATIONS.

MARCH

}