TNAG-0384-FCO40-430-Trade-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-EEC-1973 — Page 64

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YPHER/CAT A

ODCI BRUSSELS CE1733Z

CONFIDENTIAL

FRAME

RECEIVEL IN

REGISTRY No.37

ROGE

1

5FEB 1971

jve 6779361

INFC PRIORITY

TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO CODEL 72 OF FATTY HONG KONG INFO ROUTINE BONN THE HAGUE LUXEMBOURG PARTS RCHE URNIS GENEVA (FOR JONES) TOKYO INFO SAVING OSLO COPENHAGEN DUBLIM PRUSSELS (FOR DODGE)

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9/2

HY 1.P.T.

FOLLOWING FROM THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER.

FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF MY STATEMENT ON HONG KONG.

1. MY DELEGATION HAS NOW HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSALS MADE BY THE COMMUNITY ON 12 JANUARY WITH RESPECT TO THE INCLUSION OF HONG KONG IN THE COMMUNITY'S GENERALISED PREFERENCE SCHEME FROM THE DATE OF ITS IMPLEMENTATION; AND ALSO THE SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION WHICH WAS GIVEN TO US BY THE COMMUNITY 01 26 JANUARY.

2. I SHOULD LIKE FIRST TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR THE COMMUNITY PECISION TO ACCEPT MY FARLIER PROPOSAL TO INCLUDE HONG KONG I THE COMMUNITY'S GENERALISED PREFERENCE SCHEME. WE FOR OUR PARE WILL DO GUR UTMOST BY THE DIPLOMATIC CHANNEL TO ENSURE THAT HE OTHER MAJOR DONORS UNDER THE GENERALISED PREFERENCE SCHEME ALSO FNCLUDE HONG KONG AND THAT THERE WILL THUS BE A REASONABLE SHARING OF THE BURDEN.

3. PERHAPS I COULD FIRST MAKE A GENERAL FOINT BEFORE REFLYING DETAIL TO YOUR PROPOSAL. HONG KONG IS AND WILL REMAIN AFTER FULARGEMENT A DEPENDENT TERRITORY OF THE UNITED KINGDON. 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.

4. NOW AS FAR AS YOUR PROPOSALS ARE CONCEPENED YOU SUGGESTED) THAT IT SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD BY THE CONFERENCE THAT THIS CUSTO OU HONG KONG IN THE COMMUNITY'S GENERALISED PREFERENCE SCHEME BOULD SETTLE THE CASE OF HONG KONG DEFINITIVELY IN THE FRALEYUPK O THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR ACCUSSION, CAN AGREES THAT YOUR PROPORN

AD THE CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH IT DC SETTLE THE CASE OF H 4. AS RAISED BY US IN Tal FRAMERONK OF THE NEGOTIATIONS FAR CUSSION,

CONFI VEUT AL

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