I recommend,
(a) that we ask the Board of Trade, whether these
developments are such as they would expect to prejudice
the other commercial occasions coming up with the Canadians,
and whether in the event that the Canadian High Commissioner
does propose negotiations with HMG in the course of the next week or two (independently of the discussions Mr. Hughes will be having in Canada on 22 September) they will agree. If
there is to be such a meeting we will certainly have to ask
Hong Kong to send a representative, because agreement could
otherwise not be reached and there would be great ill-feeling
if we bartered over Hong Kong's trade all by ourselves.
(b) that having ascertained the Board of Trade's reactions we inform Lord Shepherd. He will be absent after Thursday
but I cannot see that there will be an occasion before then
unless there are further developments over which he could
usefully intervene on Hong Kong's behalf.
19 August, 1969
(H. H. Stewart)
Hong Kong Department
Copy to Mr. Preston Commodities Department.