CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NO. 776
TO HONG KONG
24 NOVEMBER 1970
TOP C
YATK).
FIDENTIAL 241700Z
UK/HONG KONG CONSULTATIONS:
FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF STATEMENT TO BE ISSUED TO PRESS HERE AT 1131 HOURS GMT ON WEDNESDAY 25 NOVEMBER.
BEGINS.
SIR DAVID TRENCH, THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, ACCOMPANIED BY SENIOR HONG KONG OFFICIALS, HAD TALKS WITH BRITISH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE FROM 23-25 NOVEMBER, TO DISCUSS VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE BRITISH APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES. THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER, MR. GEOFFREY RIPPON, PRESIDED OVER THE OPENING SESSION OF THE TALKS.
THE TALKS WERE CONCERNED PRIMARILY WITH HONG KONG'S POSITION IN THE LIGHT OF THE BRITISH NEGOTIATIONS, AND THE PROSPECTS FOR HONG KONG, IN THE EVENT OF BRITISH MEMBERSHIP OF THE ENLARGED EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES. THEY INCLUDED A FULL DISCUSSION OF THE AIMS TO BE
SOUGHT IN THE NEGOTIATIONS. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE
TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF HONG KONG VIEWS DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS,
THE TALKS ALSO COVERED OTHER QUESTIONS AFFECTING HONG KONG'S TRADING POSITION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND ELSEWHERE, INCLUDING THE
UNCTAD GENERALISED PREFERENCES SCHEME.
EIDS.
2. YOU WILL NO DOUBT WISH TO ISSUE TEXT SIMULTANEOUSLY IN HONG
YONG.
DOUGLAS-HOME
FILES
COPIES TO:
H.K.D.
T.P.D.
E.I.D.
COMMODITIES D. NEWS D.
MR. BOTTOMLEY SIR L. HOHSON IR. GALLAGHER MR. WILFORD IR. ROBINSON
CONFIDENTIAL
MR. LAM, D.T.I.
MR. CAREY D.T.I.
HONG KONG GOVT. OFFICE U.H.D. (4 COPIES)