TNAG-0858-FCO40-1068-Proposed-UK-China-bilateral-shipping-agreement-1979 — Page 135

14

RESTRICTED

17

2145-

HKK 175/2

PP PEKING

GRS 153

RESTRICTED

FM F C O 161158Z FEB 79

TO PRIORITY PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 164 OF 16 FEBRUARY.

YOUR TEL NO 212: ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION ACPEEMENT : SHIPPING.

1. WE INTERPRET YOUR FINAL SENTENCE TO MEAN THAT YOU BELIEVE THE

CHINESE WILL WANT A PEFERENCE TO SHIPPING SIMILAR TO THAT INCLUDED

IN THE SINO/FRENCH ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AGREEMENT. WE DO NOT

REGARD THIS AS ENOUGH TO MEET THE INTEREST OF OUR SHIPOWNERS : WE WOULD STILL WISH TO NEGOTIATE AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS UNDER THE -

UMBRELLA OF THE ECA, ON THE LINES PROPOSED IN PARA 5 OF OUR TEL NO 66. IF THE CHINESE INDICATE THAT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DISCUSS

THIS, YOU SHOULD EXPRESS DISAPPOINTMENT, AND SAY THAT PRISTON WILL

WISH TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER DURING MR VARLEY'S VISIT. IT WOULD

HELP IF YOU COULD CLARIFY WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION WHETHER

PRISTON SHOULD TALK TO THEM OR TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN TRADE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR POLICY ON THE PLACING OF CARGO.

OWEN

NNNN

FILES

FED

HK AND GD

MAED

MP CORTAZZI

MISS BROWN

X

1

RESTRICTED

ADDITIONAL DISTN.

CHINA TRADE

COPIES TO:

SHIPPING POLICY DIVN. DOT

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