TNAG-0462-FCO40-527-Entitlement-of-Hong-Kong-to-EEC-Generalised-Scheme-of-Prefer-1974 — Page 11

A

Mr Crowson

стервоп

Mr Stuar Stuan

Mr Youde

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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No. 01

13 MAY 1974

HKK 6/598/

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Br Canon Is 17. Goodfellas PA

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agree with Mr. Straat's minute belas.

M. Slank.

Goroga

PS/Lord Goropwy-Roberts

6/5

HONG KONG: EEC GENERALISED SCHEME OF PREFERENCES

1.

When he called on Lord Goronwy-Roberts on 18 April

Mr Herries (Chairman of the Hong Kong Association) handed the

attached newspaper cuttings to the Minister. Lord Goronwy-Roberts

has asked for the Department's comments.

2.

The subject of both is a Committee formed in Hong Kong

to press for the inclusion of Hong Kong's textile and footwear

exports in the EEC Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP). The

articles are substantially correct. There is certainly strong

feeling in Hong Kong over the exclusion of these items.

(Textiles are Hong Kong's major export). The evidence that their

exports have been severely affected by this exclusion is,

however, not strong.

BACKGROUND

3.

In February 1971 we agreed with the Six, during the

enlargement negotiations, that Hong Kong should be admitted to

the Community's GSP, subject to the exclusion of her textile and

footwear exports. As some of Hong Kong's principal competitors

among the developing countries receive benefits in these

categories, we have, since 1 January 1974, on aligning to the

/Community's

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