NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
W(B)L 51-7406
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CONFIDENTIAL
Commonwealth Preferences And Compensation
29. The position of Hong Kong preferences
under the Ottawa Agreement and possible
compensation for loss of these in the British
Market after entry to the EEC, were thrashed
out in @tail in the 1967, discussions. It is
suggested that they should best be covered in
separate discussion, as not directly related
to actions we may pursue in our negotiations.
[At the same time the TI may wish to add some
comment at this point in the brief, to cover
the possibility of Hong Kong officials raising
this in a specific EEC context.]
The GATT
30. Hong Kong's rights in the GATT, after
British entry to the EEC, was another subject
of thorough discussion in 1967. Again it might
ge best to avoid going over this ground during
the Session (s) on our EEC negotiations. (But,
again, the DTI might wish to add comment at
this point in case the Hong Kong officials
raise it],
Publicity
31. After the 1967 talks an greed statement
was released to the Press in the U.K., and the
Leader of the Hong Kong Delegation made an
agreed statement to the Press on his return
to Hong Kong. This said, inter alia, that
"the probable consequences of the loss of
preferential access to the British markets for
Hong Kong's exports look less serious now than
they did five years ago. But the situation
will have to be closely watched as it develops."
It will be necessary, during this round of
talks, to agree to similar statements. This
can bestŕ
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