TNAG-0384-FCO40-430-Trade-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-EEC-1973 — Page 84

REPORTED AS SAYING THAT THERE WAS LITTLE PROSPECT OF IMPROVING

HONG KONG 'S TRADE ARRANGEMENTS WITH E.E.C. HE POINTED OUT THAT

HONG KONG HAS BEEN ABLE TO TAKE CONSIDERABLE ADVANTAGE OF THE

E.E.C.G.S.P.: IT IS SECOND OR THIRD OF THE COUNTRIES TAKING

ADVANTAGE'. WHILE STRESSING THAT IT IS A LIVING SCHEME, NOT ONCE

FOR ALL, AND REVIEWED EACH YEAR' HE HELD OUT LITTLE PROSPECT OF

*

CHANGE ON EXCLUSION OF FOOTWEAR AND TEXTILES. IN REPLY TO A QUESTION

HE SAID THAT THIS EXCLUSION WAS PART OF THE AGREEMENT WHEN BRITAIN

JOINED E.E.C.

LATTER REMARK HAS BEEN TAKEN AS FURTHER GRIST TO MILL OF THOSE WHO

ARGUE THAT BRITAIN HAS NEGLECTED AND/OR WILL NO LONGER ADEQUATELY

DEFEND HONG KONG'S INTERESTS IN E.E.C.

REPORTS OF MEETING BETWEEN SIR C. SOAMES AND E.E.C. REPRESENTATIVES

AND MR DENMAN AND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WHEN SAME POINT WAS ALSO

MADE BUT STRESSING ADVANTAGE TO HONG KONG OF HAVING AS MUCH AS

SHE HAS, FOLLOW BY BAG.

ASTON.

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PRODROME LONDON

HX3031 UKTRADEO