Mr. Statham (EID)
CONFIDENTIAL
MTU.15/393/1 Reference
CC: Mr. Laird (Hong Kong Department)
Mr. Gallagher
Mkigher Vam
283)
idean?
(103)
T
(249)
Hong Kong, the EEC and Generalised Preferences
21/10
I was glad to have the extracts from the records of Mr. Rippon's talks in Brussels enclosed with your minute of 16 October and to see how firmly Mr. Rippon pressed the case for Hong Kong's inclusion in the GPS by the Community. I also note from paragraph 4(i) of CODEL Brussels telegram No. 113 that Sir Con O'Neill, at the meeting of Deputics, argued strongly for an early discussion with the Community on Hong Kong's position under the GPS in the context of the enlargement negotiations.
20
Perhaps we should now reconsider the question or an approach to the French (paragraph 4 of my minute of 7 October) which to be effective would probably need to be at high level. There seemed to be pointers both for and against. On the one hand M. Tran was 147) reported in UMis Geneva telegram No. 705 as putting
the responsibility for the negative attitude of the Six mainly on the French; on the other hand the very same source is reported in Mr. Hannay's minute to Mr. Christoras as referring to "the united opposition of other parts of the Commission machine" particularly the Directorate-General for Industry.
3. Iî, as seems to be the case, our representations to the Commission have had a fair impact might there not be good arguments for renewing the attack on the French (and possibly some other Governments of the Six, minus the Belgians) in continuation of our aide memoire of July? I should be grateful for your views. I appreciate that this affair may have to be looked at in the light of our tactics in the enlargement negotiations generally.
is
+
Aubalter
(R. G. Britten)
Trade Policy Department
20 October, 1970
CONFIDENTIAL