CONFIDENTIAL
HW B
6/18
CS
BRITAIN AND THE E.E.C.
CONSULTATIONS WITH HONG KONG OFFICIALS
Fourth Session Wednesday 25 October. 1967 at 3 p.m.
British Delegation
Sir A. Snelling
Sir A. Galsworthy
Mr. F.G.K. Gallagher
Mr. C.J. Audland
Mr. G.I. Brown
Mr. J.M. Healey
Mr. J.R.D. Gildea
Mr. J.A.B. Darlington
Secretary:
Hong Kong Delegation
Commonwealth Office
1!
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11
11
17
11
Board of Trade
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Miss K.J. Lawrence
667.
Mr. J.J. Cowperthwaite Mr. C.P. Haddon-Cave
Mr. P.C.M. Sedgwick
Mr. D.G. Jeaffreson
Mr. J.H. Martin
Financial Secretary, Hong Kong Deputy Economic Director (Acting)
Hong Kong Government Office,
London
Commerce and Industry Department,
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Government
Representative, Brussels
The Handling of Hong Kong's Interests in Negotiations
Mr. Cowperthwaite said that the Hong Kong Government was more concerned with the line of approach which it needed to take with Britain than with the approach which Britain should take with the Community.
2. The Hong Kong Government had decided that in general they should not ask Britain to make any specific demands to the Six on Hong Kong's behalf; but this was subject to Britain's own views. If Britain decided that she would accept a straight- forward arrangement for the progressive application of the c.e.t. to Hong Kong's exports, Hong Kong would not object to that conclusion; but they would hope, in that case, that Britain would seek the longest transitional period obtainable.
Sir A. Snelling said that the two sides appeared to have a more or less identical view of the way in which the question of Hong Kong should be approached in negotiations.
3. On the question of a unilateral declaration by Britain of her continuing responsibility towards her dependent territories, Mr. Cowperthwaite said that Hong Kong would accept a British statement in Parliament as an alternative to a formal declaration annexed to the instruments of British accession, in the light of the arguments put forward by the British Delegation. The important thing was that there should be a public statement. (In discussion the Hong Kong Delegation had explained their preference for a declaration attached to the instruments of accession, on the grounds that this would be a
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CONFIDENTIAL