TNAG-0298-FCO40-334-Entitlement-of-Hong-Kong-to-generalized-tariffs-preferences--1971 — Page 166

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TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO CODEL 72 OF 2 FEBRUARY 1971 INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG INFO ROUTINE BONN THE HAGUE LUXEMBOURG PARIS ROME UKMIS GENEVA (FOR JONES) TOKYO INFO SAVING OSLO COPENHAGEN DUBLIN BRUSSELS (FOR DODGE)

MY 1.P.T,

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FOLLOWING FROM THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER,

FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF MY STATEMENT ON HONG KONG.

1. MY DELEGATION HAS NOW HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSALS MADE BY THE COMMUNITY ON 12 JANUARY WITH RESPECT TO THE INCLUSION OF HONG KONG IN THE COMMUNITY'S GENERALISED PREFERENCE SCHEME FROM THE DATE OF ITS IMPLEMENTATION: AND ALSO THE SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION WHICH WAS GIVEN TO US BY THE COMMUNITY ON 26 JANUARY.

2. I SHOULD LIKE FIRST TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR THE COMMUNITY DECISION TO ACCEPT MY EARLIER PROPOSAL TO INCLUDE HONG KONG IN THE COMMUNITY'S GENERALISED PREFERENCE SCHEME. WE FOR OUR PART WILL DO OUR UTMOST BY THE DIPLOMATIC CHANNEL TO ENSURE THAT THE OTHER MAJOR DONORS UNDER THE GENERALISED PREFERENCE SCHEME ALSO INCLUDE HONG KONG AND THAT THERE WILL THUS BE A REASONABLE SHARING OF THE BURDEN.

3. PERHAPS I COULD FIRST MAKE A GENERAL POINT BEFORE REPLYING IN DETAIL TO YOUR PROPOSAL. HONG KONG IS AND WILL REMAIN AFTER ENLARGEMENT A DEPENDENT TERRITORY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

IT FOLLOWS FROM THIS THAT IT MUST BE OUR CONTINUING CONCERN TO AVOID DISCRIMINATION AGAINST HONG KONG IN FAVOUR OF ITS PRINCIPAL COMPETITORS AMONG THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

4. NOW AS FAR AS YOUR PROPOSALS ARE CONCERENED YOU SUGGESTED THAT IT SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD BY THE CONFERENCE THAT THIS INCLUSION CF HONG KONG IN THE COMMUNITY'S GENERALISED PREFERENCE SCHEME WOULD SETTLE THE CASE OF HONG KONG DEFINITIVELY IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR ACCESSION. I CAN AGREE THAT YOUR PROPOSAL IN AND THE CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH IT DO SETTLE THE CASE OF HONG ! ན KONG AS RAISED BY US IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR

ACCESSION.

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