TNAG-0384-FCO40-430-Trade-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-EEC-1973 — Page 62

CONFIDENTIAL

ANNEX A

A

B

C

THE 1971 UNDERTAKINGS

1. In a statement to the Community of Six on 1 February 1971

(Brussels telegram No CODEL 72) Mr Rippon accepted their proposal

to apply the EEC's GSP to Hong Kong with the special exception of

textiles and footwear. In his statement Mr Rippon agreed that

the case of Hong Kong was thus settled definitively in the frame-

work of the negotiations for accession, and that this should be

the regime to be applied to Hong Kong by all the members of the

enlarged community. He added, however, that "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".

2. In informing the Governor of Hong Kong of his intention to

include a passage on the above lines in his proposed statement

Mr Rippon indicated (Brussels telegram No 91 to Hong Kong) that

his object was to record our intention "thereafter to pursue

this aim (of eliminating discrimination against Hong Kong) both

before enlargement in our technical contacts on the adaptation

of our scheme to that of the Community and after enlargement in

the annual reviews in which we shall participate as full members".

In a further telegram (Brussels telegram No CODEL 1) to the

Governor dated 2 February 1971, Mr Rippon repeated this, and

expressed confidence that there would be "good opportunities" to

work for the objective of non-discrimination, and that we would

take advantage of them.

CONFIDENTIAL

13.