NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
CONFIDENTIAL
a
dr the
all- beck position, for lexclusion of their principal compresifons
in these commockties,
there is an over-riding political objection to this
course because it would involve seeking amendment
of the terms on which we acceded to the Communities.
Their estimate, which is shared by our Permanent
Representation in Brussels is that we would not get
the amendment. So while trying to get it (and
failing) would temporarily ease our relations with
the Hong Kong Government, it would not help Hong Kong
in practice. At the same time it would put HMG in
very considerable difficulties, both domestically
and internationally. Domestically because the
Opposition would be quick to say that if the terms
of our Accession could be varied for Hong Kong they
could be varied for the United Kingdom.
Internation-
ally because other Commonwealth countries would take
the same line. We avoided difficulty with India,
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Ottawa only by holding
firmly to the line (on the Secretary of State's
instructions) that on 1 January 1974 we had no
alternative but to begin to raise our tariffs against
them according to the terms of our accession. It
might also open the door to pressure from our
Community partners to change aspects of the treaty
13/ OPTION 2
Failing her inclusion in
which they did not like.
Failing
the GSP for textiles and footwear, Hong Kong wants
us to work for the complete exclusion of these two
commodities from the GSPA While we could accept the
former bert
atter Lif
If it were to be the outcome of negotiations on
the wider issues (see below) both FCO and DTI
officials see overriding objections to our making a
they
direct proposals of this nature because/it would be
T
7.
CONFIDENTIAL
/contrary
(17259) Dd.897459 250m 12/72 G.W.B.Ltd. Gp.863 (16941) Dd.897300 250m 9/72 G.W.B.Ltd. Gp.863