TNAG-0046-FCO40-82-Britain-s-entry-into-EEC-effect-on-trade-with-Hong-Kong-1967 — Page 181

CONFIDENTIAL

6.

(1) Would Britain's access as such affect Hong Kong's

G.A.T.T. relationships with the Six?

(ii) What procedure could be adopted, after British

entry into the E.E.C., for protecting Hong Kong's

position in cases where it appeared that her

G.A.T.T. rights were being disregarded by the

Community or any of its Member States?

The Hong Kong Delegation proposed that an objective of

The

the U.K. in the negotiations should be to ensure that Hong Kong's present rights of access for cotton textiles to the countries of the enlarged Community would not be diminished. application of the common external tariff to their exports of cotton textiles to the U.K. was a secondary matter, although

this might have some effect on the pattern of trade.

7. It was noted that O.E.C.D. and U.N.C.T.A.D. were both working on proposals for the establishment of a system of generalised preferences for less developed countries, which could provide Hong Kong with benefits for new products which would offset her loss of preferential Commonwealth access to the U.K. market (see paragraphs 2(g) and 3 above).

8.

A second round of talks might be held in about two months time on the same basis to give further consideration to the

foregoing points.