CYPHER/GAT A
ROUTINE
HONG KONG
RESTRICTED
TOP COPY
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. M557 TO BRUSSELS
8 NOVEMBER 1968
HK
RESTRICTED
[NEUTRAL]
ADDRESSED GRUSSELS (FOR DODGE) TELEGRAM NO. M557 OF 8TH NOVEMBER.
3
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 42.
COTTON TEXTILES TO BENELUX.
AS WE SAID IN NEGOTIATIONS, WE WOULD WELCONE DE-LIBERALISATION OF
RESTRICTED HONG KONG COTTON TEXTILES FROM THIRD COUNTRIES.
2. TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG GETS MAXIMUM BENEFITS POSSIBLE FROM
RESTRICTIONS, WE PREFER IMPORTING COUNTRIES TO INSIST ON CERTIFICATES
OF ORIGIN, AND OUR SYSTEN IS EASIER TO ADMINISTRATE IF THE IMPORTING
COUNTRY INSISTS ON C. AND I. CERTIFICATES. THE EXCHANCE RECORDED IN
PARAGRAPHS 158 AND 159 OF THE RECORD WAS LITTLE MORE THAN A TOKEN
GESTURE ON OUR PART. THUS ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO DISCOURAGE THE
BENELUX FROM PURSUING THEIR IDEA OF ABANDONING THE CERTIFICATION
REQUIREMENT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
3. PLEASE POINT OUT TO KOOPS THAT UNLESS THEY REQUIRE CERTIFICATES
OF ORIGIN FOR TEXTILES UNDER RESTRAINT FROM ALL SOURCES
(A) HONG KONG TEXTILES COULD ENTER BENELUX FROM THIRD COUNTRIES
AS OF UNSPECIFIED ORIGIN SECCLON
(E) ANOTHER FORK OF THIRD-COUNTRY TIME COULD DEVELOP, 1.E. REALLY
LOW-COST TEXTILES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES DEING SHIPPED VIA HONG
KONG UNDER OUR QUOTA.
4. WHY ARE THEY THINKING OF ALANDOMING THE CERTIFICATION PA
REQUIREMENT ANYWAY?
RESTRICTED
/5.
YRECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES No.31 - 8NOV 1968
HWAG/SOUT