TNAG-0239-FCO40-275-Entitlement-of-Hong-Kong-to-generalised-tariffs-preferences--1970 — Page 112

Mr. Brind (EID)

CC:

Mr. Bottomley

Mr. Gallagher

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference...

P.A.

Knılır

Mr. Laird (Hong Kong Department)

with (43)

Generalised Preferences - Iong Kong

En

25/%

Please see the interesting and well written report attached from Mr. Jones, the Counsellor (Hong Kong Affairs) in Geneva, to his Government about the OECD meeting on Generalised Preferences earlier this month. I draw your particular attention to paragraph 16 in which Mr. Jones says that the key to Ilong Kong's position lies with the EEC (which I believe

to be in line with our own thinking) and suggests that only Ministerial pressure, preferably by Mr. Rippon himself, will shift the Six. This proposal seems to me to be very worthwhile considering; may I please have your views on it in the light of our tactics in the enlargement negotiations? We may need, of course to take into account the talks with Mr. Hijzen which are being held today in London.

2. Mr. Jones also proposes that pressure should be maintained on the Japanese. You should know that in consultation with Mr. Laird we already have it in mind to brief Mr. Royle, who will be in Tokyo on 6 October, to speak to the Japanese in continuation of the Secretary of State's message to Mr. Aichi.

In Bulter

(R. G. Britten) Trade Policy Department

24 September, 1970

CONFIDENTIAL

f