TNAG-0045-FCO40-81-Britain-s-entry-into-EEC-effect-on-trade-with-Hong-Kong-1967 — Page 14

CONFIDENTIAL

position after that will depend inter alia on the

development of the Community's common commercial policy, on

a member we should which we can give no assurance, though as

of course be in a position to influence it.

If the Hong Kong

representatives cuggest that Britain, as part of our

negotiations with the E.E.C., should seek the enlargement

of national quotas in other member countries of the E.E.C. for

the benefit of Hong Kong, we should point out that we could

not ask that the commercial policy of individual members of the

Six should become a matter for our negotiations.

Common Commercial Policy

15. We appreciate Hong Kong's concern that this might develop

after our entry in ways unfavourable to her. However, for

the most part, the common commercial policy has yet to be

laid dow.. It would not be realistic to ask the Six to

define it before our entry, in ways favourable to particular

developing countries. However if we become a member of the

Community and only if we do we, like the other members,

will be able to influence the future development of the

common commercial policy. At that stage we should of

course take full account of the interests of Hong Kong.

Continued Preferential Access to the British Market for Limited Groups of Products

16. This idea has certain attractions, but it would almost

certainly not be negotiable. In any case it would be

certain to meet resistance from British manufacturers, who

would have to face duty free competition both from the Siz

and from Hong Kong.

CONFIDENTIAL