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W(B)L 51-7406
CONFIDENTIAL
Laying out
a course, we should find ourselves refuhding
duties twice over, once to the Community
and once to Hong Kong. It was also possible
that if we made such a concession to Hong
Kong other Commonwealth countries would
claim similar refunds. Sir J.Cowperthwaite
pointed out that Hong Kong was a dependent
territory whereas the other Commonwealth
who
countries/might be interested were inde-
pendent. Mr. Gildea said he thought it
unlikely that Whitehall Departments would
take kindly to a scheme of this nature.
8.
Sir J. Cowperthwaite said it would be
helpful to Hong Kong in the transitional
period if we could move as quickly as
possible to the EEC Rules of Origin and away
from the Commonwealth Rules. The EEC Rules
were based on the transformation of materials
in Hong Kong and such a move would help a
flexible transformation. At present almost
all Hong Kong's exports to the Six were
covered by Certificates of Origin.
Mr.Gildea
said he thought this problem needed further
study. It was likely that we would wish to
continue with the present Rules of Origin
also to
as long as possible. Se ha consider
the question in relation to the position of
other Commonwealth countries benefitting
from the General Preferencer Scheme.
9.
Sir D. Trench said that Hong Kong had
a reputation for overcoming difficulties.
We must not put too much faith in this.
The defence of British entry into the
Consequen us
CONFIDENTIAL
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