CONFIDENTIAL
-2-
3. ERNST IS CLEARLY ANXIOUS TO MAINTAIN THE DIALOGUE WITH REPRESENT-
ATIVES OF HONG KONG AND, AS FAR AS APPROPRIATE, WITH US, THOUGH HE
RECOGNISES THAT THERE WILL PROBABLY NOT BE MUCH MORE TO BE SAID ON
OUR SIDE UNTIL A DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN IN GENEVA ON THE EXTENSION
OF THE L T A. HE IS, OF COURSE, WELL AWARE THAT HONG KONG IS A SIG-
NATORY OF THE L T A IN ITS OWN RIGHT: BUT THERE WOULD PERHAPS BE NO
HARM IN SEEKING TO KEEP CLEARLY IN HIS MIND THE IMPORTANCE WHICH THE
BRITISH GOVERNMENT ATTACH TO HELPING HONG KONG TO ACHIEVE AN ACC-
EPTABLE SOLUTION.
4. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR INSTRUCTIONS IN DUE COURSE WHETHER THERE
IS ANYTHING WHICH YOU WOULD WISH US TO SAY TO ERNST IN REPLY TO HIS
APPROACH.
5. DODGE HAS SEEN THIS TELEGRAM IN DRAFT AND ASSUMES THAT GOVERNOR
HONG KONG WILL ADVISE YOU IN RESPECT OF PARAGRAPH 4 ABOVE.
F C O PASS PRIORITY HONG KONG AND UKMIS GENEVA AND SAVING TO WASH-
INGTON.
SIR J MARJCRIBANKS
REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION
COMMODITIES DEPT.
H.K. DEPT.
W.E.D.
FFFFF
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
H.K. INT. TRADE
CONFIDENTIAL