TNAG-0631-FCO40-779-Effect-of-GATT-Multi-Fibre-Arrangement-on-Hong-Kong-negotiat-1977 — Page 129

PP HONG KONG

GR 200

АКК

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TO PRIORITY MARCH HONG KONG TEL NO CREDA 326 OF 27 OCTOBER 1977

YOUR TELNO MISC 130

#

FOR D JOHNSON, PS/MR KAUFMAN FROM ROBERTS.

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TEXTILES: FOLLOWING INFORMATION SHOULD BE TREATED WITH CAUTION. CHANGES IN METHODS OF RECORDING AND DEFINITION MAKE COMPARISON DIFFICULT, THOUGH AS FAR AS POSSIBLE ALLOWANCE HAS BEEN MADE FOR THESE.

"" from Be, and

March, hat.s.a

THE INDUSTRY WAS AT ITS PEAK IN 1951 WHEN IT EMPLOYED 1.6 M IT WAS THEN THE LARGEST OF THE UK MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES. CURRENT POSITION IS THAT 0.8 M ARE EMPLOYED AND IT IS THE THIRD LARGEST OF OUR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.

2

CHANCELLOR'S STATEMENT: PLEASE SEE FCO GUIDANCE TELEGRAM 202 TO HONG KONG. THIS GIVES DETAILS AND BACKGROUND AND WE HAVE

NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO ADD.

POLISH DEAL: YOU SHOULD BY NOW HAVE CREDA 320 WHICH COVERS THIS, AND TO WHICH WE HAVE NOTHING TO ADD AT PRESENT.

STEEL: I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PAPERS REQUESTED FROM SIR CHARLES VILLIERS WILL BE WITH THIS OFFICE TOMORROW FOR MR KAUFMAN TO CONSIDER ON RETURN. PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS ARE THAT THE MATTER WILL BE CONSIDERED BY EY ON 7 NOVEMBER.

REDUNDANCY PAYMENTS SCHEME: AN IMPORTANT MEETING BETWEEN CSEU AND BRITISH SHIPBUILDERS (WITH DI OFFICIALS PRESENT) HAS BEEN ARRANGED FOR 1 NOVEMBER. THE ADVICE IS THAT IT WOULD BE PREMATURE TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE MINISTER TO TAKE A MEETING IN ADVANCE OF THIS: BUT ALL CONCERNED ARE FULLY AWARE GE THE IMPORTANCE ATTACHED TO AN EARLY AGREEMENT.