Olilaster
Hong Kong Department
37
96
35
HNK 6/312/1
4
16/42223/4
15 April, 1969
Withckelvis T.P.D + li tollings Commodities, wir. this maint of 31/3.
HONG KONG: FRENCH IMPORT AESTRICTIONS
Bu 24 Appl You will see from paragraph 18 of the enclosed Saving Despatch No. 438 from Hong Kong (I regret that this in the only spare I have so that I am unable to send copies to Toms, Tippetts, Kemmis and Stewart to whom I am copying this letter) that in their annual trade talks with the French on 11/12 March, Hong Kong used the licence given them as a result of your letter of 11 February to say that when the French list of discriminatory restrictions came up for discussion in the GATT, HEG might have to pursue the matter further to clarify points not included in the lists.
2.
The GATI Committee on Trade and Developments Residual Restrictions Group meets on 17/18 April. In the meantine Mr. Jones, Counsellor, (Hong Kong Affairs) at Geneva, has sent Hong Kong his telegram no. 14 of which I enclose copies. Only today when the Saving Despatch reached us were we able fully to understand this communication.
3. By now Mr. Jones will have made his off the record approach to the French so that it is to that extent too late to intervene supposing that we wished to do so. However, I should be grateful for very early advice, if you wish to offer any, on the remaining points made in kr. Jones telegram and in particular on the suggestion that the question might be taken further in the Industrial, roducts Committee meeting beginning on 28 April.
4. I have sent Hong Kong a telegram to say that Mr. Jones' message is being urgently studied now that their report on the French talks has been received.
(Nor-zara file)
LAST
REF
11
(H. H. Stewart)
R.
D. I. Dunnett, Esq., C.N.G.,
Board of Trade,
1 Victoria Street,
LONDON, 3.W.1.
16/4
Page 60Page 61
(118281) Dd. 391599 1,500M 2/69 Hw.