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HKK 6/3
TO IMMEDIATE GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 1184 OF 19 NOV 73.
FROM HKIOD.
PA
24. X
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION: EEC GENERALISED SCHEME OF PREFERENCES.
SIR ROBIN TURTON (CONSERVATIVE, THIRSK AND MALTON) HAS PUT DOWN A QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER ON 28 NOVEMBER TO ASK THE SECRETARY
OF STATE WHAT REPRESENTATIONS HE HAS RECEIVED FROM THE GOVERNMENT
OF HONG KONG ON THE EFFECT UPON THEIR TRADE OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY GENERALISED SCHEME OF PREFERENCES: AND WHAT ACTION HE HAS
TAKEN.
2. WE PROPOSE TO RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING ANSWER:
QUOTE FOLLOWING REPRESENTATIONS FROM THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT MY RT HON FRIEND THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER MADE A STATEMENT TO THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE EEC ON 6 NOVEMBER,
1 WOULD REFER MY HON FRIEND TO MY ANSWER TO MY HON FRIEND THE
MEMBER FOR HORSHAM ON 9 NOVEMBER UNQUOTE.
NOTES FOR SUPPLEMENTARIES.
3. WHY DID YOU NOT PRESS FOR INCLUSION OF HONG KONG'S TEXTILES AND FOOTWEAR IN THE COMMUNITY GSP FOR 1974?
A) WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CET ANY AGREEMENT ON THE INCLUSION OF HONG KONG'S TEXTILES AND FOOTWEAR NOW, WE THEREFORE DECIDED TO CONCENTRATE OUR EFFORT ON NEXT YEAR'S REVIEW. WE INTEND TO PRESS MOST RESOLUTELY FOR THEIR INCLUSION IN THE COMMUNITY'S
SCHEME FROM 1975 ONWARDS.
B) HAVE THERE BEEN ANY IMPRVOEMENTS FOR HONG KONG IN THE EEC GSP? WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN A NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS WHICH WILL BENEFIT HONG KONG. THESE ARE IN ADDITION TO GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS THE UP-DATING OF THE STATISTICAL BASIS FOR CALCULATING TARIFF QUOTAS FROM 1968 TO 1971. THIS HELPS TO INCREASE THE QUOTAS BY AN AVERAGE OF 40 PER CENT OVER WHAT THEY WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN FOR THE ENLARGED COMMUNITY, THE DUTOIRS HAVE BEEN RAISED IN 14 CASES FROM 20 PER CENT TO 30 PER CENT, NINE OF THESE INCREASES INVOLVE SIGNIFICANT HONG KONG TRADE, IN ADDITION NIME PRODUCTS (THREE OF PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANCE FOR HONG KONG) HAVE BEEN TAKEN OFF THE COMMUNITY'S SENSITIVE LIST.
/(C) WILL NOT
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