CONFIDENTIAL
Жина
CYPHER/CAT A
BRUSSELS TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
IMMEDIATE BRUSSELS TEL. NO. 31 TO HONG KONG 12 SEPTEMBER 1970
[FRAME]
CONFIDENTIAL
ADDRESSED TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 31 AND REPEATED
FOR INFORMATION IMMEDIATE TO UKMIS GENEVA FOR JONES, PRIORITY
TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT LONDON OFFICE AND SAVING TO UKDEL EEC
AND FCO.
V
FROM DODGE
HK/EEC ARTICLE 4 NEGOTIATIONS
79
ERNST HAS NOW RETURNED TO BRUSSELS AND HE CONSIDERS THAT
WE ARE VIRTUALLY COMMITTED TO TAKING-THE NEGOTIATIONS A STAGE
FURTHER IN BRUSSELS ''DURING THE SECOND HALF OF SEPTEMBER''.
2.
HE IS WILLING TO SET ASIDE TWO DAYS IN THE WEEK BEGINNING
SEPTEMBER 21, OR IN THE LAST FEW DAYS OF SEPTEMBER, BUT HE
HAS TO BE IN GENEVA ON OCTOBER 1. HE IS ENGAGED IN CT AND
GENERAL TALKS WITH THE JAPANESE NEXT WEEK AND DOES NOT NOW
EXPECT THAT THE OUTCOME WILL CONVENIENTLY ALLOW OF ANY EEC/
HK MEETING IN HONG KONG IN THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE.
3. ERNST FEELS WE HAVE NOW HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO DIGEST
THE EEC OFFER AND HE IS PRESSING FOR A FORMAL RESPONSE FROM
HONG KONG SO THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS CAN BE ON SOLID GROUND
BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER''. I MENTIONED THE QUESTION OF THE
OUTSTANDING JUSTIFICATION STATEMENT, STRESSED YET AGAIN IN
GENEVA, AND ERNST CLAIMED THAT THE EEC PROOF WAS IN THE PUDDING
HE HAD OFFERED, I.E. THAT HE HAD NOT CONTRACTED TO MEET
OUR DEMANDS FOR JUSTIFICATION, HE WAS STILL HOWEVER HOPING TO
PRODUCE A FEW MORE HELPFUL STATISTICS. ON HIS SIDE THE LACK
OF THE VARIOUS PAPERS PROMISED BY DORWARD NEED NOT DELAY
PROGRESS ON TO SOLID GROUND.
14. IN THE
~XXG/4
CONFIDENTIAL
(רר.