TNAG-0463-FCO40-528-Entitlement-of-Hong-Kong-to-EEC-Generalised-Scheme-of-Prefer-1974 — Page 142

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WOULD GAIN SOME. MOREOVER, WHILE HE DID NOT THINK THAT ANYTHING COULD BE DONE FOR HING KONG ON TEXTILES HE EXPECTED THAT SOME USEFUL PROGRESS COULD BE MADE ON FOOTWEAR AND HE EXPRESSED THE VIEW THAT THIS WAS ALL THAT HONG KONG COULD REASONABLY EXPECT AT

THIS STAGE.

4.

NEVERTHELESS, SOAMES UNDERTOOK TO REFLECT CAREFULLY ON WHAT I HAD SAID AND ON THE POINTS MADE IN THE PAPER I GAVE HIM. AND HE REPEATED THAT THE COMMISSION THEMSELVES WERE SYMPATHETIC TO OUR

APPROACH.

5. IN CONCLUSION I SAID THAT HE SHOULD REALISE THAT THERE WAS ALSO A POLITICAL POINT HERE. AS I HAD UNDERLINED TO HIM, WE

REGARDED IMPROVEMENT IN THE G S P AS PART OF OUR RENEGOTIATION

OBJECTIVES. I KNEW THAT HE WANTED BRITAIN TO REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY, THIS WAS AN AREA OF POLICY UNDER HIS DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY WHERE THE COMMISSION COULD, BY MAKING A GREATER EFFORT, HELP US TO ACHIEVE A POSITIVE OUTCOME TO RENEGOTIATION.

I THINK HE TOOK THE POINT.

FCO PASS ADVANCE COPIES TO:-

FCO BUTLER, HART.

CAB CUBBON

D/TRADE DENMAN, INGRAM.

MAFF - E J SMITH, VICKERY.

CUSTOMS

ODM

M

ABBOTT.

RADFORD.

FCO PASS SAVING BONN COPENHAGEN DUBLIN PARIS ROME.

PALLISER

BUROPEAN RCONOMIC DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

BID IKIOD

MR WILPORD

MR YOUDE

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION

PRAME

LADVANCED AND RAPHATD AS REQUESTED]

2

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