7. HONG KONG'S INCLUSION AMONG THE BENEFICIARIES
OF THE EEC GSP DID NOT IN FACT STEM FROM A DONOR-COUNTRY
SIMPLY ADDING THE TERRITORY TO THE LIST OF INTENDED
BENEFICIARIES.
ORIGIN.
•
IT WAS PECULIAR, INDEED UNIQUE,
IN
1
AS A RESULT IT BRINGS WITH IT CERTAIN
OBLIGATIONS ON THE EEC OF AN ALMOST CONTRACTUAL NA TURE
WHICH MAY BE IN DANGER OF BEING OVERLOOKED.
10. HONG KONG'S INCLUSION IN THE EEC GSP WAS A RESULT OF
BILATERAL BARGAINING IN THE COURSE OF THE UK/EEC ACCESSION
NEGOTIATIONS DURING 1970/71.
THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS
TO HONG KONG ARE THUS SOMETHING OF A QUID PRO QUO FOR THE
LOSS OF ANY FORM OF ASSOCIATE STATUS.
HONG KONG WAS
UNIQUE IN NOT HAVING OFFERED TO IT THE ALTERNATIVE OF
ASSOCIATE STATUS, WHICH HAS HITHER TO BEEN OPEN TO EVERY
OTHER DEPENDENT TERRITORY OF A MEMBER STATE OF THE COMMUNITY.
COOKE
HONG KONG CANNOT NOW THEREFORE BE LOOKED AT IN QUITE THE
SAME LIGHT AS ANY OTHER GSP BENEFICIARY TERRITORY OR
TREATED SIMPLY IN TERMS OF TRADE FLOWS. THERE IS SOME
ELEMENT OF OBLIGATION ON THE EFC AND A FURTHER ELEMENT
OF OBLIGATION ON HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT IN THIS MATTER
/BEYOND THE NORMAL
5.