TNAG-0384-FCO40-430-Trade-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-EEC-1973 — Page 184

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seur.

TO PRIORITY DTI TELNO CREDA 79 OF 15 AUGUST AND TO FCO.

FOR MISS LACKEY (CRE 2) FROM ASTON.

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7.

DT! PLEASE COPY TO JARDINE (E IT DIV) AND MISS LOWNE (C AND I DIV).

REPEATED SEPARATELY TO FCO FOR STUART (HKICD) AND FINLAYSON (EPD) AND BUTLER (EID).

PREFERENCES.

1. TODAY'S PRESS CARRIES REPORTS OF PETITION FROM SEVEN MAJOR TRADE

AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS TO THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY FOR PRESSURE TO BE PUT ON EEC TO INCLUDE HONG KONG IN

THE GENERALISED PREFERENCES FOR TEXTILES AND FOOTWEAR.

2. REPORTS EMPHASISE FEAR THAT HONG KONG'S POSITION IN BRITISH MARKET WILL BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED AND PUT AT A DISCRIMINATION AGAINST HONG KONG AND IN FAVOUR OF COUNTRIES SUCH AS SOUTH KOREA, THAILAND, PHILIPPINES WHICH HAVE NO POLITICAL OR HISTORIC LINKS WITH BRITAIN.

3. T.K. ANN (AS PRESIDENT OF FEDERATION OF INDUSTRIES) AT PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY ABOUT THE PETITION, SAID THAT IT WAS ALREADY CLEAR THAT THE DISCRIMINATION WAS DIVERTING BUSINESS TO QUOTE BENEFICIARY COUNTRIES UNQUOTE WHO ARE HONG KONG'S CLOSE COMPETITORS QUOTE WE DON'T WANT ANY FAVOURS OVER OUR COMPETITORS, WE WANT A