TNAG-0300-FCO40-336-Entitlement-of-Hong-Kong-to-generalized-tariffs-preferences--1971 — Page 24

Orinimales:

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никърска

ly/Action on

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Mr Forrester

1.

I shall bring Mr Cater to call on Mr Royle at 10.30 am tomorrow.

2. Mr Cater will be calling on Mr Bottomley at 10.00 am and will be attending a meeting in the DTI at 11 am at which the following questions will be discussed:-

(a)

(b)

The US/Hong Kong agreement on textiles. Mr Cater is on his way to Washington to attempt to secure better terms. In his telegram No 830 of 3 November the Governor said that members of the Executive Council were "anxious to try to secure more reasonable flexibility provisions at an early date. Accordingly they advised that, before ratification, an attempt should be made to secure an understanding from the US Government that the consultation and review clause could be invoked in such a way as to enable Hong Kong to seek modifications of the agreement in response to developing market opportunities at any time during its currency".

The

Canadian restrictions on imports of shirts. Canadian Government have requested urgent consultations with Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Government have already sent a representative to Ottawa.

(c) Hong Kong and the EEC's Generalised Preference Scheme. The EEC are seeking to exclude Hong Kong from its GPS in 1972 in respect of certain items. UKDEL EEC Brussels recommended on 25 October that the Hong Kong representative in Brussels should ask the Commission what justification or explanation the Commission could offer with specific relation to the items in question. The sooner Hong Kong can get into a dialogue with the Commission the better.

RECEIVED IN

REGISTRY No.51.

10HOV 1971

HIKEDI

8 November 1971

сс

Sir L Mozson

Wilford

Kr Sammons (TPD) Mr Rale (Commodities)

Maria.

E O Laird

Hong Kong Department