HONG KONG'S RELATIONS WITH THE EEC AND WITH THE UK AS A MEMBER STATE
1. Hong Kong has traditionally been regarded with suspicion by some at least of the Six since they feel that the Territory's status es a developing country does not accord with her great success in capturing large markets overseas for her exports of textiles, clothing, toys and electrical products. Para
of this brief deals with the "competitive need" concept which has some times been put forward in Brussels with countries such as Hong Kong particularly in mind. Hong Kong's relations with the EEC on textiles is also dealt with below.
Hong Kong's position in the GATT
2. The United Kingdom is the contracting party which has acceded to the GATT on behalf of Hong Kong, and is responsible for Hong Kong's GATT's rights and obligations. The Territory is therefore represented in the GATT by the UK and UK spokesmen speaking on behalf of Hong Kong are identified as such. In practice, Hong Kong's interests have been represented for some time by a Counsellor (Hong Kong Affairs) in the UK Mission in Geneva.
3.
Mr Jordan could be invited to express his views on this subject.
Bainf provided by DTI
with Mr. Jordan
30
November
PA
HKK 6/3. formary
4.x
183)