TNAG-0628-FCO40-776-Effect-of-GATT-Multi-Fibre-Arrangement-on-Hong-Kong-negotiat-1977 — Page 99

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

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2. KLARIC (COMMISSION) SAID THAT PARAGRAPH 5 WAS INTENDED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE COMMUNITY'S PROBLEMS AND THE FINAL VERSION, WHICH APPEARS IN MIFT, HAD BEEN PROPOSED BY THE US WHO HAD INSISTED THAT ANY UNDERSTANDING SHOULD APPLY GENERALLY AND NOT JUST TO THE COMMUNITY. THE UNDERLYING ASSUMPTION IN THE PRESENT TEXT IS THAT IN RETURN FOR ANY QUOTE UNDERSTANDINGS` UNQUMTE (PARA 5) AGREEMENT WOULD BE REACHED HERE AND NOW ON THE RENEWAL OF THE MFA UNCHANGED (PARA 4). HOWEVER, TRAN SAID THAT THE TEXT OF BOTH THESE POINTS COULD BE SUBJECT TO FURTHER NEGOTIATION. THE LAST SENTENCE OF PARAGRAPH 7 IS INTENDED TO PREVENT IMPORTING COUNTRIES FROM GOING OUTSIDE THE MFA.

3. IN PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION THERE WAS WIDESPREAD SCEPTICISM

(NOTABLY FROM THE FRENCH) BOTH ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF THE PRESENT TEXT WHICH BORE VERY LITTLE RELATION TO THE COMMUNITY'S MANDATE, AND ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SUCH AN APPROACH. WHILE IT WOULD BE TACTICALLY UNWISE TO REJECT THIS KIND OF APPROACH OUT OF HAND, THE PRESENT TEXT IS CLEARLY UNACCEPTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY AS EVEN THE GERMANS ADMIT. DISCUSSION CONTINUES.

FCO PASS ADVANCE COPIES TO :

DOI RIDLEY, HUDSON,

DOT -WRIGHT

CAB HARRIS

*

EID(E)-STERN

BOTTOMLEY

FILES EID (E)

PRES SECT

UND

TRED

N AM D

HK & GD

MR HIBBERT

MR FRETWELL MR BUTLER MR THOMAS

[ADVANCED AS REQUESTED]

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