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SECRET
to have great difficulty in securing a reasonable deal for Hong Kong At would in their view be a mistake if we began by pitching or demands
mg King too low: their view therefore was that we should begin by asking for Association, and make that the point from which we would start making concessions. I said that, while I recognised there was some force in this argument, it seemed to me equally arguable that, looked at in the context of the negotiations as a whole, we might on balance do better for Hong Kong if we, perhaps rather more realistically, took up the threads again where we had left them last time. I said I would certainly note their view, but that I really felt that the right negotiating posture would have to be decided in the light of the outcome of the probe. You may like to be reminded of the line which the Brief for the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary for their visits to European capitals took on this point: it is summarised in paragraph 10 of the attached copy of a minute which i sent to Mrs. Hart just after she had taken over reaponsibility for the Dependent Territories Division (the minute contains a bit more back-
round information which you may also find useful).
There is one point about the briefs prepared for the Secretary of State' use in Hong Kong which I should like to make. We have not sent copies of the briefs to the Governor, since generally speaking this
But of course we always consult and the Common Market brief is
has not been our practice in the past. the Governor on any important issues; a case where we think you would find it helpful to outline to the Governor what the secretary of State is proposing to say to the nofficials etc. (Annex '') to make sure that in substance and presentation there are no unforeseen snags and that it will not embarrass the Governor in his task of handling what might be a very awkward problem for us in lng Kong. We felt that it would be preferable that yo and the Secretary of State should do this in personal discussion with the Governor rather than that we should attempt to clear it all in correspondence before your arrival: SO much will depend on how opinion in Hong Kon; may have reacted to press reports etc. in the few days before your arrival.
Finally, I hope you enjoy your stay in Hong Kong as much as I always do. I hope you arenot feeling too jaded by now!
(A.N. Galsworthy)