TNAG-0763-FCO40-967-Effect-of-GATT-Multi-Fibre-Arrangement-(MFA)-on-Hong-Kong-ex-1978 — Page 28

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DJIC funti intive the iscove Non shither the "Evils with pisthitim unde fijne fi-

"Amber iv)35", of buy

dia in the

1

"Shohw (at least

to QI 78) abu be availabis.

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consider what response to make to the proposals.

24.

I urged that the US should give an early response to HK's request for statistics. Ambassador Smith said that he had already set the wheels in motion although there were some problems with the provision of production data. DTIC also asked for the profit

TIC

record of the 50

aig companies in the textile and apparel industry in

the USA for the current year. In conclusion the DTIC reaffirmed that he could give no indication of what HK's reaction might be. What he could say, was that if the statistics did not show a strong economic case for revision s, it would be very difficult to convince the Gover;ent that any assistance should be given to the US. Whilst HK understood the political pressures upon the US administration, he reiterated that the feeling in HK was that the US textile industry had had too much protection for too long.

25.

After the usual courtesies, the

meeting concluded at 1330 hrs.

Dist: DT IC DT

Lawrence Mills.

(LWR Mills)

DT