TNAG-0762-FCO40-966-Effect-of-GATT-Multi-Fibre-Arrangement-(MFA)-on-Hong-Kong-ex-1978 — Page 232

GR 129

IMMEDIATE

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER CAT A

See. D

FM FCO 121815Z

CONFIDENTIAL

HKK 121/1

19

JAN253

INS

13. A

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 31 OF 12 JANUARY INFO UKMIS GENEVA (FOR MILLS), BRUSSELS (FOR BURGESS), UKREP BRUSSELS

YOUR TELNO 1 TO UKMIS GENEVA EEC/HONG KONG TEXTILES AGREEMENT

1. THIS WAS THE FIRST INDICATION THE FCO HAD RECEIVED OF A PROPOSAL TO ALTER THE SUBLIMITS IN CATEGORIES 2 AND 3. WE HAVE LEARNT THAT THE

SUBJECT WAS RAISED BY OTHER DELEGATIONS AND IT DID NOT RECEIVE UK SUPPORT. IT IS ON THE AGENDA FOR A MEETING ON 13 JANUARY: WE THINK

IT PROBABLE THAT THE COMMISSION WILL RECOMMEND THAT THE PROPOSAL

SHOULD NOT BE PURSUED. IN ANY CASE ANY ACTION TO CHANGE THE LIMITS

WOULD ONLY FOLLOW AGREEMENT AFTER NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE

COMMISSION AND HONG KONG. THERE IS NO QUESTION OF UNILATERAL ACTION.

OWEN

FILES HK&GD EID (E)

MR POSNETT MR HIBBERT MR MURRAY

MR FRETWELL

2

COPIES TO:

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE 6 GRAFTON ST

CT DIV DOI

CONFIDENTIAL

LONDON W1 -