NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
case of paragraph 3 the final sentence which
we suggest might be inserted does no more than
leave the choice of venue (for negotiations
where British international commercial policy
is not involved) for decision between Hong Kong
and the third party concerned.
As with the addition to paragraph 3, the
new paragraph 8 seems quite unnecessary but
useful for presentation purposes in Hong Kong.
We cannot pretend that we like it and I imagine
your own feelings will not be too different,
but at least the proposal is that Hong Kong,
as well as ourselves, should recognise the need
for speedy decisions. On that mutual basis we
have no objection in this Office. Trench
himself appeared to attach importance to it
for "consumption in Hong Kong".
At the same meeting we touched on the
ground covered by Eugene Melville in his letter
to Bob Goldsmith dated 3 December. I think
had we seen this letter of Melville's sooner
we would have come to the conclusion that it
contained enough matters of substance to
justify our asking you to take part in the
discussions, There is no doubt at all that
Melville's points are of considerable
importance, although you will be aware that
when we were considering Hong Kong's draft
together we did not have the question of the
Colony's representation in international
organisations so clearly in mind as the sort
of contentious bilateral occasion (e.g. Hong
Kong/Canada, Hong Kong/Norway) from which the
need for explicit guidance has so largely
developed.
/However