TNAG-0103-FCO40-139-Briefs-and-background-notes-for-Lord-Shepherd-1967 — Page 44

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ANNEXE A

NOTE ON TALKS BETWEEN BRITISH AND HONG KONG

OFFICIALS ON E.E.C. MATTERS

Talks were held in London from 10 to 12 July between

British and Hong Kong officials about the implications for

Hong Kong of British entry into the E.E.C. The British

Delegation was led by Sir Arthur Snelling, Deputy Under-

Secretary at the Commonwealth Office, and the Hong Kong

Delegation by Mr. C. P. Haddon-Cave, Deputy Director of

Commerce and Industry. The talks, which were without commit-

ment on either side, were intended to explore what problems

British entry would pose for Hong Kong and what theoretical

possibilities for dealing with them existed.

2. The Hong Kong Delegation suggested that the following

theoretical possibilities for dealing with Hong Kong's

problems might be considered:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(a)

Yaoundé-type association.

Morocco-type protocol.

Coverage of Hong Kong exports to the U.K. by

any general arrangements which might be negotiated

with the Six for the gradual application of the

common external tariff.

Coverage of Hong Kong's exports to the U.K. by

special arrangements for Hong Kong to be negotiated

with the Six for a more favourable rate of applica-

tion of the common external tariff than the rate

generally applied.

(e) Acceptance of the application of the common

external tariff to Hong Kong's exports to the U.K.

even if this had to be achieved in a single step.

(f) A unilateral declaration by the British Government,

at the time of signature of the accession instruments,

following the precedents of certain unilateral

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/declarations

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