1.
WE ALONE OF THE MAJOR SUPPLYING COUNTRIES INVOLVED ARE NOW
DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN THE MATTER OF PREFERENCES AND THE
FACT, AS I HOPE I HAVE PROVED YOU CONVINCINGLY,
THAT WE
HAVE REALLY SUFFERED DIVERSION OF TRADE AS A RESULT, IT WILL
COME AS NO SURPRISE TO YOU THAT HONG KONG VIEWS THE SUGGESTION
OF NEGOTIATING FURTHER QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS WITH
CONSIDERABLE RELUCTANCE AND CONCERN.
f
THE MTA PROVIDES
ADEQUATE SAFEGUARD MECHANISMS TO COPE WITH ACTUAL MARKET
DISRUPTION.
INDEED, IT WOULD NOT BE TOO MUCH TO STATE
THAT WE CANNOT REALLY FORESEE A MUTUALLY AGREEABLE SUCCESSFUL
OUTCOME OF ANY BILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EEC ON
COMPREHENSIVE QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS UNLESS AND UNTIL
THE CURRENT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST US IS TOTALLY REMOVED.
IT IS THEREFORE THE HOPE OF THE HONG KONG
GOVERNMENT THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
IN ALL HER EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE THIS END IN THE APPROPRIATE
FORUM OF THE EEC AS IT HAS ALREADY INDICATED IT INTENDS
RESOLUTELY TO DO.
29.
I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR AFFORDING ME THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT YOU WITH A SUMMARY OF THE HONG KONG
VIEWPOINT AT THIS PARTICULAR STAGE IN THE EEC'S DELIFERATIONS
ON ITS 1975 GSP ARRANGEMENTS.
/I SHALL BE