TNAG-0132-FCO40-168-Tariff-preferences-for-developing-countries-1969 — Page 10

Mr. Britten

MTU 15/1

ค

I have spoken to Mr. Stewart about the latest letter from Mr. Goldanith at (47). We agree that the present position is not satisfactory and in your talk with Mr. Combs you might consider bringing out the following points.

2.

(1) The position has altered in as much as we

no longer seem to have any grounds for hoping to get anything out of the informal exchanges that have been going on.

(2) Has the Board of Trade any more cards to

play? If not, would they consider some sort of pressure from us on EEC countries on behalf of Hong Kong?

(3) It is not clear from Mr. Goldsmith's

latest letter how much is known to the Hong Kong Government. We should now con- sider consulting the Hong Kong Government on how they see the situation and we might say so to the Board of Trade or at least tell the Board that we must put the Hong Kong Government in the picture.

(4) The opportunity for doing this is given

by the Governor's Savingram at (20) from the earlier part of this file,

The latest news we have on the Community is con- tained in Mr. Kemmis's draft PCO paper on Generalised Preferences which is with you. Incidentally, that information does not seem to me so up-to-date as that contained in the Memorandum at (43A).

(J. N. McKelvie)

6 February, 1969

Copied to:

Mr. Stewart (Hong Kong Department/

Mr. Brind (European Economic Integration Department)