GR 710
CHER CAT A
04 BLC
FM FCO 241630Z
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
1974
A
TO ROUTINE HONG KONG TEL NO 1131 OF 24 DECEMBER/ REPEATED TO FOR INFO UKREP BRUSSELS, UKMIS GENEVA (FOR DORWARD) BRUSSELS (FOR BURGES) 68) YOUR TELNO 1191. HONG KONG / EEC TEXTILE NEGOTIATIONS,
(68)
OUR COMMENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
A. STATISTICS
WE ATTACH CONSIDERABLE IMPORTANCE TO A STRICT INTREPRETATION
OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE MFA, AND CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR STATISTICAL
JUSTIFICATION OF EACH RESTRAINT PROPOSED FOR INCLUSION IN THE
MANDATE FOR NEGOTIATIONS WITH YOU,
WHERE NO CASE HAS BEEN MADE FOR A COMMUNITY-WIDE RESTRAINT, WE HAVE BEEN PREPARED TO CONSIDER WHETHER A JUSTIFICATION EXISTS FOR. A RESTRAINT AT THE REGIONAL IE NATIONAL LEVEL. IN OTHER MANDATES, THE UK HAS BEEN THE MAIN DENEFICIARY OF THIS CONCEPT, AND WE HAVE SET THE PATTERN OF JUSTIFYING OUR REQUEST OBJECTIVELY TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. BUT THERE ARE LIMITS TO THE EXTENT TO WHICH
WE CAN QUESTION THE SOVEREIGN RIGHT OF EACH MEMBER STATE TO DECIDE
WHAT IS OF VITAL INTEREST TO IT.
B. COVERAGE
WE SYMPATHISE WITH YOUR DESIRE TO HAVE ADVANCE
NOTICE OF THE PRODUCTS WHICH THE COMMUNITY PROPOSES TO RESTRAIN.
LODGE OF CT DIVISION HAS ALREADY GIVEN MILLS AN INDICATION OF THE
RANGE OF PRODUCTS CONSIDERED FOR INCLUSION IN THE COMMUNITY
MANDATE, BUT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO GIVE YOU MORE DETAILED OR UP TO DATE INFORMATION. DESPITE THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP OF HONG KONG
AND THE UK, THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY REGARD HONG KONG AS A THIRD
COUNTRY AND COULD REACT STRONGLY IF WE WERE TO REVEAL DETAILS
OF THE COMMUNITY'S NEGOTIATING POSITION. WE RECOGNISE THERE COULD BE ADVANTAGES, ESPECIALLY IN VIEW OF THE LIKELY TIME CONSTRAINTS. IN YOUR HAVING SOME ADVANCE NOTICE AND WE WILL
PRESS THIS POINT ON THE COMMISSION., WE WOULD ALSO SUPPORT ANY
REQUEST YOU MAY MAKE TO THE COMMISSION FOR THE ADVANCE PROVISION
OF STATISTICS.
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/0. THE
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