N.P. 3-
3-4
2
he knew that DiMartino and Tran had been aware of the
assurance which was given during the enlargement
negotiations.
I set discussion of this matter aside
statistics
temporarily and we examined the EEG import and Hong
Kong export statistics for these items and
relating to shipments covered by preference certificates.
Schoffer expressed surprise that Hong Kong had no trade
with the EEC in several of t items under discussion
and that Hong Kong did not export some of the items to
any country. He had not been aware of this. In reply
to my question as to the justification for the exclusions,
Schoffer said that he was not competent to give such a
justification and the Commission official who would be
in a position to do this had unavoidably been prevented
from attending the meeting. He assumed, however, that
the items were products about which the domestic industries
of the Member States were worried and that where there
was no trade this reflected a concern that Hong Kong
might develop into these areas. I pointed out that
I understood this to be one of the purposes of the G.P.S.
I then spoke at some length of Hong Kong's objections to
discriminatory treatment in favour of our competitors and
said that for the two reasons (a) that there was no
justification for the exclusions and (b) that Hong Kong
could not voluntarily agree to be discriminated against,
daynuna y do abbyf a gentlemen's agreement between
Hong Kong and the E.E.C. was impossible.
4.
I then suggested three methods whereby the E.E.C.
might secure the protection it sought and which I would be
prepared to recommend for acceptance to the Hong Kong
Government.
These were:
(a)