TNAG-0171-FCO40-207-Effect-of-UK-s-economic-measures-on-exports-from-Hong-Kong-1969 — Page 6

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

*2-

IMPORTS, BUT WE BELIEVE IT HAS HAD A USEFUL RESTRAINING EFFECT AND

WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. WE REALIZE OUR TRADING PARTNERS FEEL

CONCERN ABOUT THE SCHEME BUT WE BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN OF THE

ALTERNATIVES OPEN, THE WAY WHICH, WHILE HELPING US TO ACHIEVE OUR

AIMS. IS THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE TO TRADE.

(III) COMMONWEALTH POSITION.

IF ASKED WHETHER COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WILL BE

EXEMPT FROM THE SCHEME YOU SHOULD SAY THAT THIS WOULD BE

DISCRIMINATORY AND UNACCEPTABLE IN THE GATT. BUT COMMONWEALTH

AND OTHER DEVELOPING COUNTRIES SUPPLY GOODS WHICH, FOR THE MOST PART

ARE NOT COVERED BY THE SCHEME.

(IV) EFTA AND GATT.

IF IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE SCHEME IS A BREACH OF THE GATT AND

OF EFTA YOU SHOULD SAY THAT, AS WE HAVE MADE CLEAR, WE HAVE NO

DOUBTS THAT THE SCHEME IS COMPATIBLE WITH OUR OBLIGATIONS.

(V) I.M.F. ATTITUDE.

OUR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE MUCH MORE FAVOURABLE NOW THAN WHEN THE

SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED AND IT MAY BE SUGGESTED THAT THE IMF'S VIEWS

OF THE SCHEME WILL THEREFORE BE DIFFERENT. WE CANNOT ANTICIPATE

THE IMF'S VIEWS BUT WE HOPE THAT THEY WILL ACCEPT THE PURPOSE OF

THE SCHEME AND THE NEED FOR A GRADUAL PHASING CUT.

(VI) INTERNATIONAL CONFIDENCE.

WE WOULD NOT ACCEPT THAT TO CONTINUE THE SCHEME AT A LOWER

DEPOSIT RATE IS DAMAGING TO INTERNATION CONFIDENCE. IF THE SCHEME

HAD BEEN ABOLISHED, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN EARLY REVERSAL OF ITS

EFFECTS: BY ABATING THE SCHEME, WE CAN LOOK TO A MORE GRADUAL

TAPERING OFF OF THOSE EFFECTS. WE BELIEVE THE WORLD WANTS AND NEEDS

}

/A STRONG

Comments

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

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.