Mr Youde
CONFIDENTIAL
79
87
افار
155
152)
HKK 6/3
(16x)
HONG KONG AND THE EEC GENERALISED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES: THE FETITION FROM THE HONG KONG TEXTILE INDUSTRY
Flags A1.
& B (80)
Flag D
bi
REPLY TO
In his telegrams nos. 908 and 909 of 14 August, the Governor
sent the text of a petition concerning the alignment of the UK GSP
to that of the EEC, signed by the Chairmen and Presidents of seven
major Hong Kong industrial and commercial associations. In FCO
Flag C 8 telegram no. 846 we asked the Governor to tell the signatories that
their petition was being considered. The Governor has now told us
(Hong Kong telegram no. 1320) that the industry is due to meet
tomorrow 21 November. He has asked if a reply to the petition could
be sent as soon as possible.
2.
Given the presentational aspect of the problem we should
obviously try to get a reply to the industry before their meeting.
There is no need to respond to the petition point by point. Our
interest is to present in as favourable a light as possible the
statement made by Mr Davies in Brussels on 6 November (UKREP Brussels
Flag E 15 telegram no. 5359), and afterwards repeated in the House of Commons
Flag F (FCO telegram no. 1144).
3. I submit a draft telegram to Hong Kong accordingly. This has
been agreed by EID and TRED. Dependent Territories Departmental
Practice lays it down that Assistant Under-Secretaries may authorise
replies to petitions from these Territories to the Secretary of State.
20 November 1973
DESL
A C Stuart
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.
се
Mr Hazle, TRED
Mr Butler, EID (E)
Mr Robinson
Sir D Watson
FS to Mr Royle
CONFIDENTIAL
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