TNAG-0149-FCO40-185-Cotton-textiles-to-France-1969 — Page 35

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

CONFIDENT TAL

also told Mlle. Guyot that certain items on the French so- called "crtten textiles" list were not cotton textiles and had not been included in COM.TD//93; and that I would need to request that these be listed by the Secretariat.

9. I then made these points in my general statement referred to in paragraph 5 above (together with some fairly flattering remarks about Mlle, Guyot). I pointed out, in particular,

(a) the two items (terches and batteries) not listed at all; (b) the fragmentary nature of the French quota system

(~)

(bilateral, unilateral, global quotas) including unilateral quetas for Hong kong, which were dis- criminatory, and hinted at the considerable degree

●f discrimination in favour of OECD countries;

the need to include all French restrictions en non- cotton textiles, which were not covered by the CTA either directly or "in a subsidiary way".

In reply Mlle. Guyot promised to notify the items restricted t● Hong Kong which were not already on their list and said she would report back the remarks on textiles.

10.

When Section 20 (Textiles) was reached I pointed out that the Secretariat had not included ir COM.TD//93 French restrictions en clothing in Chapters 60 and 61. The French replied that this was mostly cotton clothing anyway, but I then explained that there was a quota for imports of non-cotton knitwear from Hong Kong of Francs 240,000 covering a number of items in 60.02 60.05, and another quota for non-cotton woven clothing in Chapter 61 Francs 240,000 covering various items in 60.01 - 60.06. I added that, in view of the wide coverage of these Chapters and the size of Hong Kong's global experts of the products concerned, these quotas were very small.

11.

When the draft report was taken on the 16th April Mlle. Guyet had returned to Paris and Colmant was present. The Chairman (Hall (Australia)) suggested that paragraph 8 of the draft report should be moved to the end of paragraph 4. This was agreed but Colmant suggested a re-wording as follows:-

"In response te a request by the representative of the

United Aingdom on behalf of Hong Kong the French delegation indicated that it was prepared to notify the Group of the two tariff items on which France applied restrictions on imports from Hong Kong which were not applicable to imports from ther contracting parties. The Secretariat was asked to take this into account"。

12. I replied that I could accept this as far as it went but said that I would prefer to see the whole Hong Kong list notified as the quotas were unilateral and therefore dis- criminatory. I asked for time to think over any addition I might wish to make. After considering varicus possibilities and consulting Colmant privately, I came to the conclusion that I had made my point and would not press for a reference in the report that, in our view, the whole Hong Kong list should be notified. I therefore confined myself to requesting

CONFIDENTIAL

/an addition

с

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.