- JUL 1970
TORK 6/18
UK RELATIONS WITH HONG KONG ON TEXTILES
Reference...
Krolb
The Kin
47
U. Jele
По 9 він н
na
At the meeting which you chaired on Wednesday 17 June 1970 the following were present:
Mr Dunnett
CRE.1
Mr Toms
CRE.2
Mr Carey
Mr Genochio
CRE.1
Mr Gregory
Mintech
Mr Gallagher)
Mr McEnery Miss Welch
Mr Laird
FCO
pl. їм
25%
Mr Heath
The meeting considered Mr Carey's proposals (outlined in his minute to you of 8 June) for offering to Hong Kong an autonomous negotiating status in the field of non-cotton textiles. The main points to emerge are set out below.
2°
OBJECTIVE
It was agreed that HK should be offered independent negotiating status in the field of non-cotton textiles, similar to her present status in respect of cotton textiles. It was desirable for HMG to be dissociated from agreements HK might conclude in this field.
3. NATURE OF THE CONCESSION
(i) The concession should be seen as a delegation by HMG of its responsibility for IK's commercial relations in one particular field, ie non-cotton textiles. Care might be needed to avoid any implication that we now regarded textiles as a whole, and not merely cotton textiles, as sui generis.
(ii) Bilateral arrangements for cotton textiles made by HK when registered with the UN carry the statement that they are concluded 'with the authority and consent of HMG'. llowever, in the case of non-cotton textiles no registrable agreements of this kind are foreseen.
(iii) HM Embassies could continue to provide administrative support for HK if it were desired, in the same way as they do for, eg New Zealand in countries in which New Zealand is not represented.
(iv) HMG could give support to HK should it be asked for (eg in negotiating on non-cotton textiles with the US) as long as this were consistent with HMG's policy and other obligations.
4.
RECIPROCAL CONCESSIONS
as
It was agreed that the terms of reciprocal concessions sought should be/outlined in para 4 of Mr Carey's minute of 8 June, subject to the understanding that point (a) in that para would apply only in the field of quotas not tariffs.
5. GATT ASPECTS
(1) It was agreed that while decisions on these points could be left over for the present, if it were considered necessary to give the Director-General of the GATT a formal notification of HK's new status, Sir E Melville would be given an opportunity to comment on how this might best be done.
1
L10016 N449106/633443 100,000 11,69 KP3601