TNAG-0241-FCO40-277-Agreements-under-GATT-long-term-arrangements-for-exporting-o-1970 — Page 8

CC to dis Laird In Juan

United Kingdon Delogatnam

the European Communities,

52 avenue des Arto,

1040 Brussels.

15 June, 1970..

por 1676

Near Mark,

Cotton Textile ITA: Hong Kong

Thank you for your prompt instructions about the handling of the Commission's approach to Hong Kong for Article 4 negotiatione.

2. I duly spoke to Ernst in the Commission and told him that we would be most grateful if, in this case, he would address himself directly to Dodge, the Hong Kong representative in the Embassy here. Ernst said that this was perfectly satisfactory to him and he indicated that he would also change the style of the communication to take account of the fact that it wac going direct to the liong Kong Government and not to the British Government. To avoid any misunderstanding I explained to Ernst that the direct contacts with Hong Kong, which we were recommending on this occasion, related only to the ITA on cotton textiles, in which field we had some years ago agreed to give the Hong Kong Government a wide measure of autonomy. This autonomy did not relate to other trade policy matters outside the field of cotton textiles.

3.

I have passed all this on to Pat Dodge who will thus be receiving the Commission's communication proposing an Article

agreement, together with a text of a model agreement, proposed figures for Hong Kong exports and an invitation to negotiate in July. He has undertaken to keep us closely informed of further developments.

H.B. Heath, Buq.,

Commodities Department,

P.C.0.

To le

(D. Ho A.

A. Hannay)

ay