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Mr. W. S. Carter
Hong Kong Department
Generalised Preferences and Hong Kong
I attach a copy of a letter from Mr. Jones in Geneva to Mr. Goldsmith, which agrees with the conclusion in Mr. Goldsmith's letter to Mr. Hannay of 12 February that diplomatic representations should not be made in Community capitals about the inclusion of Hong Kong in the Community's offer. (Mr.Goldsmith's letter was, of course, written before the arrival of Mr. Hannay's letter to him of 13 February, in which Mr. Hannay changed front in the light of further developments - on the question of diplomatic representations,. Before we had Mr. Hannay's last letter, I would have regarded some of Mr.Goldsmith's arguments as being open to question, but that is now water over the dam)
2. Had Mr. Jones' letter of 20 February arrived earlier, I think I would have suppressed our draft telegram to the Governor asking him whether he agreed with our conclusion that diplomatic representations should not be made. I also learnt from Mr. Kemmis that Mr. Jones told him over the telephone that he had copied to the Commeræ Department in Hong Kong all Mr. Hannay's reports about the situation in the Community. In the light of all this, I now feel that we have been overdoing our concern for Hong Kong's interests. It seems that Hong Kong represents itself in these matters and is kept fully informed by its own officials. Since we only see some of the communications which pass between these officials and the Hong Kong Government, I for one will be cautious in future about possible intervention on Hong Kong's part.
MüBilten
(R. G. BRITTEN)
Trade Policy Department 25 February, 1969
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CONFIDENTIAL
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