C&200
2700206
2003-102-7/71-B83972
RESTRICTED
TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS:
"CANDIHONG" HONG KONG
OUR
REF.:
YOUR REF.:
CR/EIC 230/20/1 VI""
Dear Andrew,
EEC GSP
COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT,
FIRE BRIGADE BUILDING,
HONG, KONG.
26th September
RICHME
REGA
32
- 3 OCT 1974
WKK 8/29811
As you know, I wrote recently to Peter Preston suggesting another meeting principally to discuss this subject. He wrote back saying they wouldn't be ready until late October because they would have to go to Ministers first and couldn't do that until after the Election.
102/0
19 74.
I enclose a copy of my further reply. I hope you (and EID) will agree that it would be useful to have an informal 'exchange of views' before submissions to Ministers are finalised, whatever may be necessary after that. I am sure that, at this end, it will go down much better (whatever the decision may be) if we can say we were consulted before the decisions were taken rather than merely informed of what decision had been taken.
Since I wrote to you on 20TH August we have issued to the Trade and Industry Advisory Board and the Textiles Advisory Board a paper bringing them up to date on the GSP. The paper has also gone to UMELCO, and Chambers of Commerce and Trade Associations. It didn't create much of a stir, largely, I think, because people are at present focussing even more than usual on short-term commercial and economic difficulties. There has similarly been hardly any comment on our new post in Brussels, despite the fact that it'sbeing filled by Claude Burgess.
Jous
evn
Jan's
(D.H. Jordan)
Director of Commerce and Industry
A.C. Stuart, Esq., C.P.M., HK & Indian Ocean Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London, S.W.1.
Ihn. Stuart her
RESTRICTED
wwritten.