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pointed to the clause in paragraph 3b of the Community
offer which made clear that whatever special conditions
might be applied to Hong Kong these would not contain
discriminatory elements and to Mr. Rippon's acceptance
of the E.E.C. offer which made clear that it was an
acceptance of the offer as contained in the Community's
statement and which also drew the Community's attention
to the continuing concern of the H.M.G. to avoid discrimin-
ation against Hong Kong in favour of its principal
competitors among the developing countries. I said that
I had been authorised by H.M. G. officials in London and
instructed by the Hong Kong Government to draw the
Commission's attention to these statements and that any
discriminatory move by the E.E.C. against Hong Kong would
cause the Hong Kong Government to seek the assistance
of H.M.G. since the agreement which would be breached was
one made between the E.E.C. and the U.K.
7. In response to this
Schoffer said that he had
been unaware of the non-discrimination clause in the
h
Community offer and he tought that this fact combined with
Hong Kong's fears of discrimination and the lack of
justification for the exclusions would require the Commission
to re-examine its proposed action completely. He would have
discussed thewitsouss the matter within the Commission as quickly
as possible but he did not see how there could be any
movement on the E.E.C.'s original proposals without their
being given alot being given alot more study. He expressed doubt that the meeting E.E.C. could resolve problems before the mid-December of
the Counsel which would consider the following year's
G.P.S. proposals in which case the only alternative
in his view
available to the Commission would be to continue with
the present arrangements for Hong Kong unchanged for next
year.
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