TNAG-0132-FCO40-168-Tariff-preferences-for-developing-countries-1969 — Page 7

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3. Mr. Goldsmith has not been inactive. He had a long talk

with Mr. Tran of the Commission in January, during which

Mr. Tran emphasised that the U.K. should exert political

pressure which should be especially directed to changing the

French opposition. He subsequently spoke to Miss Guyot of the Fränch Delegation in Geneva and clearly argued Hong Kong'

case strongly. There have, however, been no concrete results,

so far at least.

4. The position now reached is that Mr. Hannay in Brussels

continues to argue that an approach: to the member states as

well as to the Commission should be made and very soon if we

are to exert any influence. I have made no progress whatever

in putting the argument to the Board of Trade Department

concerned that even if representations were unlikely to

produce effective results, we should not fail to use weapons

at our disposal and should, moreover, have regard to the

need ministers might have to say that we had made representations, if Hong Kong were in the end excluded by the Community and if questions were raised in the House.

Mr. Goldsmith obviously handles this question personally and

hes a great deal more information than is available to us.

Hong Kong Department are satisfied that Mr. Goldsmith is well informed as to the Hong kong position, but I am myself uneasy that we continue not to take action on Mr.Hannay's advice. I suggest therefore that you might discuss this whole matter

with

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