TNAG-0938-FCO40-1157-Visit-of-John-Nott--Secretary-of-State-for-Trade--to-Hong-Ko-1980 — Page 39

BRIEF 3 PART IV

4

During 1978 and 1979 a number of cases of origin fraud were discovered. Goods from Hong Kong were being imported into the Community under certificates of origin showing various countries. The Hong Kong authorities co-operated fully in investigating these cases.

5

Also during 1979, the US attempted to renegotiate its bilateral agreement with Hong Kong in order to reduce the latter's access. In the event the few changes made were largely cosmetic. The Hong Kong Government consider that HMG (Mr Blaker)'s vention on their behalf may have played a useful role in restraining the Americans to what is permissible under the MFA.

6

inter-

In general, relations with Hong Kong on the day to day working of the bilateral agreement have been good and a number of basket extractor cases have been resolved to mutual satisfaction. There is an unresolved problem concerning the definition of the weight of garments (whether this should include zips, buttons, etc; the UK view remains that it should).