TNAG-0237-FCO40-273-Trade-relations-between-EEC-and-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 145

CONFIDENTIAL

To: Director of Commerce and Industry, Hong Kong.

From: Counsellor (Hong Kong Affairs), Geneva.

Memorandum No. 16/70

File No. GVA/1/2

Date: 3 February 1970

EEC/Hong Kong Cotton Textile Talks, Brussels, 26 January 1970

-

Following the conclusion of the GATT Cotton Textiles

Committee on 15 17 December, 1969, Hong Kong sought to have

consultations with representatives of the EEC Commission in

accordance with the document (drafted by the EEC) accepted by

the Committee. The operative paragraphs were as follows:

"In the course of bilateral consultations ●r negotiations

which should be held in the near future, importing

countries should, in the light of the concepts, principles

and objectives of the Long-Term Arrangement, endeavour to

offer increased expert •pportunities and more flexible

conditions for the operation of bilateral arrangements.

Further, they should endeavour, in the framework of these

consultations, to give specific indications concerning the

treatment which they would grant to exporting countries

including new exporting countries, during any period of

extension.

These consultations or negotiations would imply no commit-

ment as to the future of the Long-Term Arrangement.

However, they should be based on the hypothesis of an

extension of the Long-Term Agreement in its present form

for a period of three years."

Preliminary Arrangements

2. I had approached Ernst prior to the talks (Geneva Tel.

No.3 of 16 January refers) and had been forewarned that there

was a possibility that he would not have a mandate from the

representatives of the Member States to conduct substantive

consultations. He felt, and we agreed, that there would

/nevertheless

CONFIDENTIAL