TNAG-0341-FCO40-377-Effects-on-Hong-Kong-of-long-term-policy-for-textiles-in-int-1972 — Page 74

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non-G.A.T.T. members) and as the C.T.A. had been signed by

the E.E.C. as well as by constituent Member States, there

were no juridical problems of substance and the future

relationship between Hong Kong and the enlarged Community

could be along similar lines to that between Hong Kong and

the existing E.E.C. The D.T.I. representatives, however,

thought the application of Articles XXIV and XXVI to cotton textile matters to be unaffected by the waiver and

that, in consequence, Hong Kong's position in the C.T.C. was identical to that in the G.A.T.T., in terms of established

doctrine, although it was recognised that the practical

effect was much less in the case of the former than of the

latter.

47.

As regards (b): I expressed the belief that the

practical difficulties in handling G.A.T.T./E.E.C. matters

would be greatest in the early stages after British entry.

Our principal worries were :

(1)

(11)

that it was unlikely that the U.K.

could adopt a significantly independent

stance from that of the E.E.C. in

international forums after entry, and

that the policy for such forums was

likely to be decided in Brussels and

that delegations from Member States

would have to follow this policy closely:

the practice seemed to be developing of

having a single E.E.C. spokesman for all

Member States.

/ In support of this view,

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