TNAG-0384-FCO40-430-Trade-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-EEC-1973 — Page 87

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Monday, September 10, 1973

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"USEFUL" TRADE TALKS IN HONG KONG

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Sir Christopher Soames, Commissioner of the European Economic

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Community, ad "useful talks" with government officials and members of the Executive and Legislative Councils before flying to Tokyo today (Monday)

for the GATT Ministerial meeting.

Sir Christopher told a press conference before leaving after a

three-day stay: Hong Kong is an important trading entity, and also an

important beneficiary under the Community's generalised preference scheme.

In view of the Community's responsibility in the trade policy

field it was useful therefore to have some understanding on Hong Kong's

views on a number of matters.

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Asked why Hong Kong textiles and footwear were excluded from the

generalised preference scheme, Sir Christopher said this had been part of the

agreement when Britain joined the EEC.

Then it was pointed out that South Korea enjoyed preference for

ito textiles and footwear, he replied that "a lot of Hong Kong textiles

already go into the U.K." and also Hong Kong was number two of the many

countries benefitting from the scheme.

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He said the GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) ministerial

meeting in Tokyo was to set the guidelines for further liberalisation of

trade among industrialised and developing countries.

The Tokyo talks, starting on Wednesday, will be just a preliminary,

and the actual negotiations could last at least three years.

Note to Dditors:

A picture of Sir Christopher addressing the press conference at Kaitak will be boxed this evening. (This item is not included in the Chinese D.I.B.)

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