TNAG-0135-FCO40-171-Tariff-preferences-for-developing-countries-1969 — Page 166

2nd September

also be applied to a number of other dependent teritories e.g. Fimor, Macão and Angola.

Our

11. In reply we said that we could not commit H..G. or the Hong Kong Government in any way to acceptance of these proposals without full consider- ation of them, both in London and Hong Kong. immediate reaction was however that the value of duty quotes for Hong Kong was minimal and that they would be likely to encounter strong critism both from the Hong Kong Government and from domestic industry which would take the view that the burden they now carry of duty free goods from Hong Kong would not be shared to any worthwhile extent with the Community. We should therefore probably have to state pretty clearly in the 0.3.0.D. Group that we disliked this solution and that more should be done for Hong Kong. However we recognised the internal difficulties in the Community and it was also more than likely that the U.S.A. and Japan and numerous others might try to avoid including Hong Kong in their schemes,

Youar's ward, Lleven.

0.H. Kemmis

Copied to;

R. G. Britten Esq., - F.0.0.

D. Jones Esq., Geneva (U.K. Mission)

3. Fall Esq., Geneva

#

D. H. A. Hannay Esq., - Brussels (UK Del. SEC

Muir Esq.,

Paris (U.K. Del. 0.E.C.D.)

RESTRICTED