IMMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A
FM CODEL BRUSSELS 051435Z
CONFIDENTIAL [GAME]
REGISTRY No.51
251
CONFIDENTIAL- ¿ NOV 1971
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO CODEL 941 OF 5 NOVEMBER INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA HONG KONG INFO SAVING BRUSSELS (FOR DODGE)
HONG KONG TEL. TOF CO NO. 831
LAST
R
E E C GENERALISED PREFERENCE SCHEME
NEXT
REF.
(254)
NOTWITHSTANDING THE POINTS MADE IN THE HONG KONG TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE WE REMAIN STRONGLY OF THE VIEW THAT HONG KONG SHOULD RESPOND BILATERALLY AND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO THE COMMISSION APPROACH MADE TO DODGE: IF NO SUCH RESPONSE IS MADE VERY SOON THERE IS A RISK THAT THE COMMISSION, WHO WE UNDERSTAND ARE AT A FAIRLY ADVANCED STAGE OF THEIR PREPARATION OF PROPOSALS FOR OPERATION OF THE COMMUNITY'S GENERALISED PREFERENCE SCHEME IN 1972, WILL INTERPRET SILENCE NOT ONLY AS A REFUSAL BY THE HONG KONG TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE RAISED BUT AS ACQUIESCENCE IN THE EXCLUSION OF THE ITEMS CONCERNED. 2. IT IS ONLY WHEN DODGES. HAS RESPONDED AND WE KNOW HOW THE COMMISSION REACT TO THIS RESPONSE THAT IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO FORM A CLEAR VIEW ON WHETHER IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE FOR US TO INTERVENE AND, IF SO, OF THE BEST WAY OF HANDLING ANY SUCH INTERVENTION 1 E WHETHER IT SHOULD BE MADE TO THE COMMISSION ALONE OR TO THE MEMBER STATES AND WHETHER IT SHOULD BE LINKED IN ANY WAY TO THE FINAL STAGES OF THE ENLARGEMENT NEGOTIATIONS. 3. WE HOPE THEREFORE THAT, AFTER THE DISCUSSIONS WITH CATER AND HO, DODGE CAN BE INSTRUCTED TO SPEAK TO THE COMMISSION FORMALLY BUT CONFIDENTIALLY.
4. WE HAVE NO INFORMATION TO SUPPORT THE REPORT IN PARA. 4 OF THE HONG KONG TEL. UNDER REFERENCE.
FCO PSE. PASS ADVANCE COPIES TO MASON, EID (1), SIMMONS TRADE POLICY DEPT., (FCO) LAIRD (HONG KONG DEPT., (FCO) DENMAN (D T !)
BRUSSELS SAVING PASSED
PALLISER
/REPEATED AS REQUESTED/
/ADVANCE COPIES SENT AS REQUESTED/
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EID (1)
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HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE 54 PALL MALL
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