IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No.51
CYPHER CAT A
1971
FM FCO 091739 Z
INKK
AD
COPY
256
15
CONFIDENTIAL
FRAME
TO IMMEDIATE GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 837 OF 9 NOVEMBER INFO PRIORITY CODEL BRUSSELS UKMIS GENEVA AND BRUSSELS (FOR DODGE).
FOLLOWING FROM CATER
EEC GENERALISED PREFERENCES SCHEME
1. WE HAD USEFUL DISCUSSIONS THIS MORNING WITH FCO AND DTI OFFICIALS ON NEXT STEPS TO BE TAKEN ON THE QUESTION OF HOW BEST TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS WHICH THE COMMISSION HAS IN
RESPECT OF HONG KONG.
2. THE CONSENSUS WAS THAT AT THIS STAGE IT WAS ADVISABLE THAT HONG KONG OFFICIALS SHOULD MEET BILATERALLY WITH THE COMMISSION AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR QUOTE TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS UNQUOTE AIMED AT ESTABLISHING THE FULL REASONS FOR THE EEC'S CONCERN AND, IF THIS ICLUDES THE POSSIBILITY OF EXCLUSIONS, TO SEEK AS FAR AS POSSIBLE THE JUSTIFICATION FOR AND SCOPE OF ANY MOVES PROPOSED AND HOW THE COMMISSION MIGHT IMPLEMENT THEM, SHOULD THESE PROPOSED MOVES INVOLVE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST HONG KONG IN ANY FORM WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING ADDITIONS TO THE TEXTILES AND FOOTWEAR EXCLUSIONS LIST)
*
IT
WAS AGREED THAT HONG KONG OFFICIALS SHOULD FORMALLY REFER TO THE COMMUNITY'S STATEMENT (CODEL TELNO 16 OF 12 JANUARY 1971 PARA 3 (3) THAT ANY SPECIAL PREFERENCE CONDITIONS SHOULD NOT IN THEIR APPLICATION GIVE RISE TO DISCRIMINATORY ELEMENTS AND ALSO TO MR RIPPON'S STATEMENT IN REPLY THAT IT WAS THE CONTINUING CONCERN OF HMG TO AVOID DISCRIMINATION AGAINST HONG KONG IN FAVOUR OF ITS PRINCIPAL COMPETITORS AMONG THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 65) (CODEL TELNO 72 OF 2 FEBRUARY 1971 PARA 3). WHEN THE OUTCOME OF
PA.
12/11
भू
CONFIDENTIAL
/ THESE
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