/an
Hong Kon
N.. Stewart, R&R
572
French Import Restrictions
101
I am sorry not to have replied before to your minute of 27th January. The Hong Kong memorandum refers to the possibility of raising these restrictions in the CTD Group on Residual Restrictions.
They
2. The position there is that the French have not so far taken part in any examination of restrictions affecting the developing countries. It remains to be seen what their participation in the Group's work will mean in practice. made it clear at the CTD meeting on 16th January that there could be no change in their attitude to part IV of the GATT and it is, therefore,/open question whether they would be prepared to participate actively in the examinations undertaken by the Group.
3. If the French are prepared to have their restrictions examined in the Group, the main difficulty for us would be that, as we should have to represent Hong Kong who are not separately represented, we would be inconsistent with the unwritten rule that no developed countries should join in criticism of restrictions maintained by other developed countries.
4.
For example, the Americans have indicated privately that but for this they would have wished to raise our Dollar Quota restrictions on citrus fruits. It is also possible that the French would seize the opportunity of challenging the position of Hong Kong as a developing country, which they are already doing within the EEC in connection with the UNCTAD Generalised Preferences Scheme.
5. On timing, the CTD has not yet drawn up a work programme but it appears from C/W/133 that a meeting of the Residual Restrictions Group is being arranged for 13-14 March.
2
Mr.D.I.Dunnett
CRE.1
CC.
Mr. Toms
CRE.2
lir. Tippetts
WE
CRE.3
Mr. Stewart - 1.1
Mr. Ingran - CRE.3
Miss Elliott CRE.1
Miss Pearson
CRE.1
Mr. Woodhead
Mr. Carter
CRE.1
F&CO
LAST
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KEXT
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0.H.Kemmis
4th February 1969
(v.446/
RECEIVES IN ARCHIVES No.31 19 FEB 1969
HKK6/3/21/
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