CONFIDENTIAL
63
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A
FM CODEL BRUSSELS D21845Z
CONFIDENTIAL FRAME/
LAST
REF.
(63)
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO. CODEL 1 CF 02 FEBRUARY 1971 INFO
IMMEDIATE TO F C O
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER. I WAS MOST GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PROMPT REPLY TO MY TELEGRAM WHICH HAS ENABLED US TO TAKE A CLEAR STEP FORWARD IN OUR NEGOTIATIONS TODAY AND TO REGISTER THE COMMUNITY'S OFFER TO INCLUDE HONG
KONG AS A BENEFICIARY UNDER THEIR GENERALISED PREFERENCE SCHEME.
2. IN THE EVENT I DECIDED THAT THE TACTICAL ARGUMENTS AGAINST
RAISING THE POINTS WHICH TROUBLE YOU IN THE COMMUNITY'S OFFER AT
THIS STAGE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE STILL OVERRIDING: AND I THEREFORE MADE MY STATEMENT AS DRAFTED AND SUBSEQUENTLY AMENDED
IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR OFFICIALS WITH THE OMISSION OF THE WORDS +IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG+.
3. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT WE ARE VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE SHORTCOMINGS OF THE COMMUNITY OFFER IN YOUR EYES. AND AS WE HAVE PUT FORMALLY
ON RECORD IN THE CONFERENCE IT REMAINS OUR CONTINUING CONCERN TO AVOID ANY DISCRIMINATION AGAINST HONG KONG IN FAVOUR OF ITS
COMPETITORS IN THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE GOOD OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK FOR THIS OBJECTIVE BOTH IN OUR FUTURE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY ON OUR ADAPTATION TO THEIR GENERALISED PREFERENCE SCHEME BEFORE ENLARGEMENT AND THEN AFTERWARDS AS A MEMBER. WE SHALL NOT LET THESE OPPORTUNITIES
GC BY.
SIR C O'NEILL
/REPEATED AS REQUESTED/
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
FRAME
EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL
DISTRIBUTION
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HONG KONG D
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CONFIDENTIAL
AM AVE) IN RSGISTRY No. 51
AD 1971
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