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the States
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HK by the Hawk.
MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF FERLARENT RIPRESENTATIVES
10 CCTOBER 1974
Item: Other business
HONG KONG UNDER THE GOP
Speaking Note
1.
p. 15/x.
was der's the datement
that way
Mave
Hans Kay had a
actually delivered.
I have been instructed by the British Government to raise once
again in this Committee the question of the Community's discrimination against Hong Kong in its generalised preference scheme.
2. Ferhaps I might remind the Committee that I raised this' matter on 27 June. On that occasion: I welcomed the Commission's proposals relating to footwear where discrimination would be eliminated and seid that I hoped that the other lieber States of the Community would be able to accept the Commission's proposal. I am ressonably encouraged by what I have hoard of discussion of this proposal in the Working Group this week and I hope that in the light of the explanations we have given the reserves will be withdrawn when the Working Group meets again.
CANNET HOWL LEK ČENCEM THE EXTRENT BASAHEINT MENT WITH WHICH WE 3. I was, however, deeply disappointed to learn that as regards textiles the Commission expects to propose no change in the list of beneficiaries and therefore a further hardening for another year of the outright discrimination against Hong Kong. In this connection my colleagues will recall that successive British Governments have drawn.
attention to the need to end this discrimination. For example,
1
on Hovember 1973 ir John Davies said in the Council that the Unived Lingdom vouli press most resolutely for long long's textiles and footwend to be included in the scheze in future years and on 4 June
Ir Callaghan said in the Council "We need substantial improvement in the rosition of Hong Kong where at present the United Kingdom has to
discriminate against one of its own territories".
1.