TNAG-0385-FCO40-431-Trade-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-EEC-1974 — Page 107

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UK'S POSITION IN THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS, AND MADE IT PLAIN TH ON THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY AFTER OUR ALIGNMENT, WHICH WILL BE DURING

THE 1974 ANNUAL REVIEW, WE INTEND TO PRESS MOST RESOLUTELY

FOR HONG KONG'S TEXTILES AND FOOTWEAR TO BE INCLUDED IN THE

COMMUNITY'S SCHEME. MR DAVIES LATER MADE A PUBLIC STATEMENT TO THE

SAME EFFECT, AND THE SUBSTANCE WAS REPEATED IN ANSWER TO A QUESTION

IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON 9 NOVEMBER. I HAVE ASKED THE GOVERNOR

TO PASS TO YOU THE TEXT OF THIS ANSWER.

6. THESE STATEMENTS REPRESENT A VERY CONSIDERABLE DIPLOMATIC

EFFORT BY THE UNITED KINGDOM ON BEHALF OF HONG KONG, AND I HOPE

THAT YOUR ASSOCIATIONS WILL ACCEPT THEM AS SUCH.

7. LIKE HONG KONG, BRITAIN LIVES BY TRADE. WE ARE WELL AWARE OF THE

IMPORTANCE TO HONG KONG OF LOWERING THE BARRIERS TO ITS TRADE

WITH EUROPE: BOTH FOR ITS OWN SAKE, AND IN SETTING THE PATTERN

OF HONG KONG'S WORLD TRADE. THE GOVERNOR AND THE EXPERTS OF

YOUR COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT HAVE KEPT ME FULLY INFORMED

OF THE DEVELOPING NEEDS OF INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG. YOUR PETITION

HAS CONFIRMED AND REINFORCED THEIR ACCOUNT. FOR OUR PART I HOPE

YOU WILL AGREE THAT WE HAVE DONE AND ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN

TO MEET THESE NEEDS. ENDS.

8. SINCE THE PETITION WAS CONCERNED WITH TEXTILES AND FOOTWEAR

ONLY, WE HAVE NOT INCLUDED IN THE REPLY ANY REFERENCE TO

IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EXISTING GSP. WE NOTE HOWEVER THAT THE SIGNAT-

ORIES TO THE PETITION INCLUDE THE CHAIRMEN OF THE FEDERATION OF

HONG KONG INDUSTRIES AND THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. IF YOU THINK THAT AN ACCOUNT OF CUR WIDER EFFORTS WILL IMPROVE

THE MESSAGE, WE WOULD AGREE TO INCLUDE A PASSAGE DRAWN FROM PARA. 3

OF OUR TEL NO 1143 TO FOLLOW PARA 6 ABOVE.

DOUGLAS-HOME

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC DISTRIBUTION:

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION:

HKIOD

EID

TRED

2

FRAME

COPIES TO:

HONG KONG

6 GRAFTON

GOVERNMENT OFFICE,

STREET,

LONDON WI