CONFIDENTIAL
MEMORANDUM
From:
To:
Reference:
Dated:
Prodrome, Geneva
Candihong, Hong Kong
GVA/13/3
17 January 1969
No. 7/69
O.4.C.D.
Ad Hoc Working Group on Preferences
The Ad Hoc Working Group held its third meeting on 13 and 14 January.
The agenda is at Annex 1 and copies of the relevant background papers
(list attached) are enclosed.
2.
The Agenda was taken more or less in the order set out although most
of the interesting discussion took place during the last afternoon under
item 8 Other business. This memorandum gives an account of the official
proceedings. Another memorandum comments on the (for Hong Kong) more
important question of the position of Hong Kong as a beneficiary country,
on the basis of information picked up in the corridors and during the
meetings.
Item 2 Preparation and Distribution of Submissions
3. There was a long discussion of the note on this prepared by the
Secretariat (TC/Pref. 68.9). The table included in that paper was
generally agreed as drafted but, in the light of reservations by a
number of countries on their ability to complete one or more parts of it,
it was accepted that answers would need to be on a "best endeavours"
basis. The introductory part of the paper and the notes to the table
were recirculated as revised in TC/Pref.69.1.
are as follows:
Particular points to note
(a) in columns 4 and 5 existing preferential rates (where applicable)
will be shown in addition to MFN rates.
(b) similarly in columns 7 and 8 separate figures are requested for
importe under existing preferential rates.
CONFIDENTIAL
/(c)