TNAG-0630-FCO40-778-Effect-of-GATT-Multi-Fibre-Arrangement-on-Hong-Kong-negotiat-1988 — Page 11

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CONFIDENTIAL

Ref. CR/EIC 230/5/12/4 II

Record of a meeting at EEC Commission Headquarters, Brussels on 27 September 1977

Present:

(a)

Hong Kong

(b)

(c)

H.E. the Governor

Mr. W. Dorward

Department of Trade Industry and Customs

Mr. C.B. Burgess

Minister for Hong Kong Commercial Relations with the European Communities and the Member States

United Kingdom

Mr. David Elliott

Counsellor, UKREP Brussels

Commission

Mr. Wilhelm Haferkamp

Vice-President of the Commission

Mr. Manfred Caspari

Deputy Director General, DG 1

Mr. Tran Van Thinh

Special Representative for Textiles, DG 1

Mr. Franz Froschmaier

Chef de Cabinet of Mr. Haferkamp

Mr. Eberhard Rhein

Cabinet of Mr. Haferkamp

Mr. Alistair Sutton

Assistant to Mr. Tran

H.E. opened the meeting by saying he had been recalled to London at the instructions of the Prime Minister and had subsequently been asked to call on the Commission by the Foreign Secretary.

2.

He then rehearsed the arguments concerning the probable effects on the Hong Kong economy of restrictions such as had been indicated in Hong Kong by Mr. Tran and subsequently in various reports emanating from Brussels. He emphasised the objectionable nature of the discrimination apparently to be applied against Hong Kong in the matter of establishing base levels, and closed with a reference to the social consequences which could result from them.

3.

In response Mr. Haferkamp reiterated the EEC position along well-known lines, e.g. the high rate of

CONFIT

/unemployment

n/232