TNAG-0463-FCO40-528-Entitlement-of-Hong-Kong-to-EEC-Generalised-Scheme-of-Prefer-1974 — Page 114

CONFIDENTIAL

4.

THE QUESTION OF PRECISELY WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO PRESENT THE MEMORANDUM IN COMMUNITY CAPTIALS IS CLEARLY DEBATABLE.

AS INDICATED IN MY TELEGRAM NO 542 WE THINK THAT MAXIMUM EFFECT IS LIKELY TO BE ACHIEVED IF PRESENTATION IS LINKED TO SPECIFIC

DISCUSSION ON GSP IN THE COREPER. BUT WE NOTE FROM YOUR TELEGRAM NO 641 THAT YOU WOULD PREFER PRESENTATION TO BE SOON AFTER 19 JUNE. WE CERTAINLY DO NOT WISH TO STAND IN YOUR WAY BUT SUGGEST THAT A WEEK OR SO AT LEAST SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO PASS TO ENABLE MEMBER

STATES FULLY TO DIGEST THE COMMISSION'S PROPOSALS. AND WHEN THE MEMORANDUM IS PRESENTED, WE THINK THAT FOR THE REASONS IN PARA 2 ABOVE DORWARD AND DODGE SHOULD UNDERTAKE THE TASK, ACCOMPANIED WHERE PRACTICABLE BY EMBASSY OFFICIALS. IT WILL OF COURSE BE NECESSARY TO REVISE THE SECOND PART OF THE MEMORANDUM TO TAKE ACCOUN OF WHATEVER PROPOSALS THE COMMISSION IN FACT TABLE. WE THINK THAT ANY SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL YOU HAVE SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO DORWARD AND DODGE SOON WITH A VIEW TO THEIR MAKING USE OF IT

AT THE TIME OF PRESENTATION.

CALLAGHAN

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC FILES DISTRIBUTION

E10

HK 10D

SIR D WATSON

MR WRIGHT

MR MALE

MR WILFORD

-2- CONFIDENTIAL

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION

FRAME

COPIES TO

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE

6 GRAFTON ST