ITS RIGHTS UNDER THE MULTI FIBRE AGREEMENT (WHICH IN ITSELF IS A DEROGATION OF OUR MFN RIGHTS OF ENTRY UNDER THE GATT): SECONDLY, TO ENSURE THAT HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT WAS AWARE OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE COMMISSION'S NEGOTIATING MANDATE FOR OUR GROWTH PROSPECTS AND FOR OUR NEGOTIATING POSITION VIS-A-VIS OTHER IMPORTING COUNTRIES: AND, THIRDLY, TO PROTEST TO HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT BOTH AS THE METROPOLITAN POWER AND AS AN INFLUENTIAL MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY AT THE HIGHLY DISCRIMINATORY NATURE OF THE TREATMENT BEING METED OUT TO US. I REGRET THAT OUR REPRESENTATIONS DID NOT HAVE MORE INFLUENCE ON THE EVENTUAL OUTCOME, BUT I CAN ASSURE THIS COUNCIL THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WAS IN NO WAY INHIBITED BY ITS CONSTITUTIONAL STATUS: NOR I MIGHT ADD, IN ALL FAIRNESS TO HER MAJESTY'S COVERNMENT, WERE WE RESTRICTED IN THE CONDUCT OF THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMISSION. I CAN SEE LITTLE POINT NOW IN MAKING A FURTHER PROTEST BUT, IF HONOURABLE MEMBERS WISH,
I SHALL CERTAINLY SEE THAT THEIR FEELINGS OF DISMAY ARE FORMALLY CONVEYED TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
3. SUPPLEMENTARIES :
MR TIEN : SIR, I AM SURE THAT I CAN SPEAK FOR ALL THE UNOFFICAL COLLEAGUES THAT WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO DO SO. IN THE MEANTIME, CAN I ASK A FEW SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS ?
PRESIDENT : YES, MR TIEN.
MR TIEN : IS IT LIKELY THAT THESE IMPLICATIONS WILL BE LIMITED TO
OUR TRADE IN THE E E C ONLY ?
FINANCIAL SECRETARY : I CANNOT SAY FOR CERTAIN, SIR, BUT RECENT EXPERIENCE SUGGESTS NOT.
MR TIEN : WAS THAT POINT ALSO MADE KNOWN TO H M GOVERNMENT DURING THE COURSE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ? FINANCIAL SECRETARY: THIS POINT WAS MADE TO HM GOVERNMENT BOTH BY THIS GOVERNMENT FROM HONG KONG AND BY OUR NEGOTIATORS AND THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE IN BRUSSELS.
MISS L DUNN : SIR DOES THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDER THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE EEC'S DISCRIMINATORY NEGOTIATING MANDATE INDICATES A LACK OF REAL CONCERN FOR HONG KONG'S WELFARE GENERALLY?
FINANCIAL SECRETARY : I KNOW, SIR, THAT DOUBTS HAVE BEEN RAISED
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