TNAG-2978-FCO40-1470-Trade-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-UK-1982 — Page 69

CODE 18 77

TESTIAL

Separate copies to:

Reference

нки

HKC12 12/6. the Pleiter tão no

Heads of all Geographical Departments

TRADE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE UK.

KC.

•

J2.280

1. I attach a draft planning paper which looks at discrimination against UK exports by Third World countries. The paper was prompted by successive cases of discrimination in public sector procurement policy by Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Malaysia.

See @

2. The aim is to establish how far we are at risk from further discriminatory action; which countries are most likely to give us trouble in future; and what measures we might take.

3. I doubt whether it is possible to put together a wholly satisfactory set of general measures to prevent or counter discrimination of this kind. But a number of useful lessons should emerge from the exercise. Any suggestions as to how the recommendations might be strengthened would be particularly

appreciated.

4. I should be grateful for comments by close of play Thursday 4 February.

John Bundle

28 January 1982

cc: Mr Mallaby, Planning Staff

Mr Bayne, ERD

Miss Harvey, ESID

Mr Edmunds, TRED

Mr Kinchen, ECD(E)

J Plender

Planning Staff K113

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