TNAG-0140-FCO40-176-Effect-of-EEC-common-commercial-policy-on-Hong-Kong-exports-1969 — Page 74

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Hong Kong Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office London S.W.1

20 October, 1969

23

EEC Common Commercial Policy:

Hong Kong

I am sorry you have not had an earlier reply to your helpful letter of 10 September.

Although we have not had any approach from Hong Kong on this matter, we have been giving some thought within the FCO to the action we should take. Our conclusions are that we should move fairly quickly if we are to be effective on Hong Kong's behalf, before the Council of Ministers takes decisions on the Commission's proposals; that any representations should be made to the Commission, not to the Community member states; and that it would be preferable, both in Hong Kong's interests and our own, to get this issue out of the way before negotiations for our entry begin.

We are now proposing to consider with the Board of Trade the form and content of any representations, and will then consult Hong Kong on the basis of our agreed conclusions. I will keep you in touch with further developments.

I have sent copies of this letter to Dunnett and Ingram in the Board of Trade and to Robinson (European Integration Department) and Britten (Trade Policy Department).

(W. S. Carter)

K. C. Christofas, Esq., CMG., MBE.,

United Kingdom Delegation to the

European Communities,

28, rue Joseph II,

BRUSSELS 4.

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