1
NOTES ON THE WORKING LUNCH ON 14TH SEPTEMBER, 1972, FOR THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER, THE RIGHT HONOURABLE GEOFFREY RIPPON, AT GOVERNMENT
HOUSE, HONG KONG
His Excellency the Governor gave a lunch on 14th September for the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, The Right Honourable Geoffrey Rippon. Also present were members of Executive Council and the Hong Kong Government.
2.
Among the subjects discussed at this lunch
were the following:
The effects on Hong Kong of British accession to the EEC;
(a)
(b)
The future of sterling agreements; and
(c)
3.
Hong Kong's trading relationship with Britain and third countries in general.
Thanks
On Community questions Mr. Rippon was asked about the future of the Generalised Preferences Scheme and Hong Kong's relationship to it. were expressed to H.M.G. for the efforts to secure Hong Kong's inclusion in the scheme. Mr. Rippon emphasised that this was an important concession to Hong Kong. He said that detailed discussions on meshing the British scheme to that of the Six had not yet taken place. When they did, the bilateral preferences extended by Hong Kong to the U.K. would obviously be an important bargaining counter. Meanwhile there was no need for Hong Kong to generalise this to the rest of the Community. Jones, who was among those present, made the point
Mr. D.