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Reference.........
CONFIDENTIAL
34
discussion in the
part about HK good deal I the GATT and
(18)+(17)
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"En 29/
We spoke about the attached exchange of minutes. concerning the possibility of HMG disclaiming responsibility for Hong Kong's commercial policy. A search of the files of this Department shows that we have not previously looked into the possibility of releasing Hong Kong from constitutional restraints on the formulation of commercial policy in the way that is now proposed. To the best of our knowledge the last exercise broadly on these lines led to the drawing up of the draft "concordat" which has yet to be put formally to Hong Kong.
2. At a meeting in the Board of Trade this morning I asked Mr. Carey how soon we might expect to see the McEnery report on Hong Kong's negotiations with Sweden in April. Mr. Carey said that the report was unsuitable for wider circulation in Whitehall but he intended to send round a paper on the broader aspects of the problem. I asked whether he intended that this
He said he paper should supersede the concordat. thought that the paper would come to us under a letter which would in effect be his reply to Sir L. Monson's note about the draft concordat. I emphasised the urgency and reminded Mr. Carey or our undertaking in paragraph 2 of FCO telegram No.347 to Hong Kong and of the Govenor's reply (paragraph 5 of Hong Kong telegram No.337).
3. I am sending copies of these minutes to Mr.Britten in Trade Policy Department since his interests also are to some extent affected by them. I imagine that you will wish to enter them with Hong Kong Department. I should, however, be grateful to be kept in touch on the textile aspects.
1
imo
(M.E.Heath)
Commodities Department
28 May 1970.
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CONFIDENTIAL
defanics
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