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intention of abandoning Hong Kong.
There is a mutual
balance of interests and obligations.
9.
10.
After the war Hong Kong was built up by the energy
of its inhabitants with effective and impartial British
administration, into one of the great city states of
the world. Substantial difficulties have been overcome
in partnership between the UK and Hong Kong Govern-
ments and the people of Hong Kong, net Ings in
when outsidere might have thought that the future
the Colony was in doubt. Good relations between
Britain and China have assured stability in Hong Kong.
We have done much to protect Hong Kong's interests.
In some instances, however, matters do not rest
solely in the hands of HMG. An example is our
alignment on 1 January with the EEC Generalised
System of Preferences (GSF), which will involve
discrimination against Hong Kong over their textile
and footwear exports. There was no possibility of
persuading our partners before 1 January to agree to
changes in the scheme to benefit Hong Kong; but at a
recent meeting of the Council of Ministers we put
them firmly on notice that we intend to press most
resolutely next year for improvements to benefit
Hong Kong. We shall do this even though it costs us
something in Community terms.
11.
In the Lama upilt we are anxious to promote a
Communi y but
next few BORJA
fras peley whose effect over t
Fould be to open up the marketa
our more restrictivh Europen partners to irement
textile import: from countries such as Hong Kong.
we must be giv‘a (iceretion to pick the most au
occasions and toties for pursuing this.
- (3) Dd.145178 400m 5/73 G.W.B.Ltd.' Gp.863
CONFIDS' QUAL
་་་****
(363) 10.145178 400m 5775 G.W.B.LEL Gp.863
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