TNAG-0463-FCO40-528-Entitlement-of-Hong-Kong-to-EEC-Generalised-Scheme-of-Prefer-1974 — Page 117

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ND IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE PRESENT BUTOIR SYSTEM IS ACHIEVING ITS

PURPOSE.

11. ANY MODIFICATION TO THE COMMUNITY'S SCHEME TO REDUCE THE

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE MORE COMPETITIVE BENEFICIARIES WOULD, AS

FAR AS HONG KONG IS CONCERNED:

(A) REDUCE THE COMPENSATION SECURED FOR HONG KONG IN THE

ACCESSION NEGOTIATIONS:

(B) EFFECTIVELY INCREASE THE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST HONG KONG

WITHOUT ANY BENEFITS ACCRUING TO THE LEAST DEVELOPED OF

THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

12. IT IS THE VIEW OF HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT THAT THERE IS NO

JUSTIFICATION FOR ARRANGEMENTS THAT WOULD MAINTAIN OR EXACERBATE

THE PRESENT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST HONG KONG.

13. (IT IS HOPED THAT THE GOVERNMENTS OF FRANCE/GERMANY/THE NETHERLANDS/BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG/ITALY/DENMARK/THE REPUBLIC

OF IRELAND WILL FEEL ABLE TO SUPPORT THE UNITED KINGDOM GOVERN-

MENT'S PROPO ASAL THAT THE COMMUNITY'S SCHEME SHOULD FROM 1

JANUARY 1975 NO LONGER DISCRIMINATE AGAINST HONG KONG.) ENDS.

ROBERTS

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC FILES DISTRIBUTION

EID HIKIOD

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION

MR WILFORD MR MALE

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

FRAME

COPIES TO HONG KONG

GOVERNMENT OFFICE 6GRAFTON ST. W 1.

3

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