12
CONFIDENTIAL
(8)
PS to Mr
18712
CALL BY MR D H JORDAN
DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
RECIOSA
12 DEC 13
HKK 6/548/18
1. Mr Jordan has an appointment with Mr Royle at 3 pm on
Monday 10 December.
2.
Mr Jordan has not called on Mir Royle before and we
understand his main purpose is to make his number with the
Minister. He is, however, likely to raise the question of
Hong Kong's exclusion from the EEC's GSP for textiles and
footwear. He may also mention in broad terms the possibility
of Hong Kong officials presenting their own case in EEC
capitals.
3.
Mr Royle has indicated that he requires no briefing on
the European Economic Community Generalised Preference Scheme
but the Minister will wish to have some background to the ques-
tion of closer contact between Hong Kong and our EEC partners.
4. In respect of Community policy, Hong Kong has a legitimate
interest in trying to influence individual member states to
adopt more liberal policies. As in the context of the GATT Hong
Kong as a developing and major exporting country will have
different interests from those of the UK, herself a major
importer of the type of products Hong Kong produces. In the
broad sphere United Kingdom and Hong Kong Government policies
are usually identical. We could not, of course, authorise the
Hong Kong Government to lobby against major policy issues where
these differ from those of the United Kingdom, but this would in
CONFIDENTIAL
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