CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER/CAT A
PRIORITY BRUSSELS
TO
HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 4%
15 OCTOBER 1978
CONFIDENTIAL
1514407
ADDRESSED TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO. 43 OF 15 OCTOBER 1970 REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO UK MISSION GENEVA (FOR JONES)
AND MEMEX SAVING TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
ENLARGEMENT NEGOTIATIONS
FOLLOWING YESTERDAY'S MEETING OF DEPUTIES SIR CON O'NEILL
TODAY BRIEFED COMMONWEALTH REPRESENTATIVES HERE.
2.
WITH REGARD TO THE ASSOCIATION OF DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
ITEM ON THE DEPUTIES AGENDA HE STATED THAT SACHS HAD NOW
EXPRESSED QUALIFIED AGREEMENT TO HMG'S PROPOSALS. AGREEMENT WAS
IN PRINCIPLE ONLY, AND WITH A SPECIFIC RESERVATION IN THE CASE
OF HONG KONG, WHERE THE COMMUNITY HAD DOUBTS ABOUT THE APPROPRIATE-
NESS OF THE PROPOSED PROCEDURE. THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE EXAMINED
MORE CLOSELY.
3.
SIR CON O'NEILL HAD RESPONDED THAT HE WAS SORRY TO HEAR :
OF THE RESERVATION IN RESPECT OF HONG KONG, AND THAT THE COMMUNITY
WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCEDE FULLY TO HMG'S REQUEST. HMG WAS BOUND TO
MAINTAIN THAT HONG KONG AS A DEPENDENCY, SHOULD BE TREATED NO
LESS FAVOURABLY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE POTENTIAL ENLARGEMENT OF
THE COMMUNITY THAN DEPENDENCIES OF THE EXISTING MEMBER STATES,
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AKK 6/6
CONFIDENTIAL
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