TNAG-0132-FCO40-168-Tariff-preferences-for-developing-countries-1969 — Page 137

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

is

9

RECEIVED IN

ARCH

CONFIDENTIAL

m. Bitten

dire

Miss Sloddan

- 7 JANI769

نی

1st January 1969.

pl. copy

to H.K. Depart- (Mr. Hit, Stewart).

2,

UNCTAD Preférences UNCTAD

R. entro

As you may know, I have succeeded Bob Goldsmith on his promotion to be head of this Division and I am therefore writing to thank you for the account of your talk with the Commission about their proposals for the UNCTAD Tariff Preferences scheme given in your letter of December 19.

18

2. One point that is wholly new to me is the reference in paragraph 2 of your letter to the possibility of implementing the tariff preferences in a series of graduated steps. This idea has not been floated as far as I can see in any of the

· recent discussions in OECD and it would add considerable now complication. When the tariff reductions and the volumes of trade affected were very large ca in the Kennedy Round, it would be more justifiable to phase teriff cuts over a period but there is much loss justification for it in the present 0280. However, we shall have to grapple with this if the EEC pursue the idea in the final stage of the negotiations.

3. Similarly, the problem of the treatment of Hong Kong will be a particular difficulty for us and I am sure you were right to say that it is most unlikely that we can give any encouragement to proposals that would give Hong Kong only very limited benefits.

If di Martino comes to London this month, as he suggests, we can of course see him but further bilateral discussions in advance of the tabling of detailed offers are unlikely to be very useful.

1

D. H. A. Hannay Esq.,

U.K.Delegation to the European Communities,

52 avenue des Arts,

Bruxelles,4.

00. Mr. J.G.Morris BOT

Mr. G. Whitehead

3/00 -

Mr. P.H.R.Merohall UKliis Geneva.

0. H. Kemis

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