237
01 222 7877′
Ext.2014
Mr W. Camer
MINISTRY OF TECHNOLOGY
1 VICTORIA STREET
LONDON S.W.1
12th February, 1970.
HKK/6/18
Dear mem
Hong Kong Commercial Relations
You were good enough to copy to me your letter of 14th January to Bill Hughes about Hong Kong's commercial relations.
and
I very much share the doubts expressed in Hughes' reply of 4th February, but it is not clear to me how it will be possible to draw a distinction in all cases between what the U.K./Hong Kong preaches in the G.A.T.T. and what Hong Kong practices in her bilateral relations. That is why we attached importance to the words "as appropriate" in what was originally agreed as paragraph 4. These words were never intended on our part to have the limited interpretation which is conveyed by the alternative words which it is now proposed to add at the end of that paragraph; we would wish to see the original words restored. Their inclusion may not add precision to the text but, given that this paragraph concerns issues where British international commercial policy is involved, it seems hardly desirable that Hong Kong should be given, as of right, responsibility for" determining the course of and the conduct of" the negotiations, even if this is to be done in "full consultation and association with H.M.G."etc. (It could be argued that in the past twelve months Hong Kong exports have benefited enormously from the stand which this Division has taken on the whole question of voluntary restraints and I believe that it is at least open to doubt whether Hong Kong would have done as well on her own.)
My purpose in writing is therefore to say that we support the amendments proposed by Hughes, with the re-instatement of the words "as appropriate" in paragraph 4.
I am sending a copy of this letter to Hughes and to Eugene Melville.
Yours sincerely
P.5.
bury
P.W.Carey
Sir Leslie Monson, K.C.M.G., C.B.,
Deputy Under-Secretary of State,
Foreign & Commonwealth Office,
Downing Street,
S.W.1.
R
ART