CONFIDENTIAL
Consultations with Hong Kong
(23-25 November, 1970)
Mr. Kinnear (26)
The Meetings will take place in Room 102 on the first floor of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Downing Street (East). The opening session will begin at 12 noon on Monday, 23 November, and will last for about half an hour. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will make a brief statement welcoming the Hong Kong delegation, to which the Governor will reply. Thereafter, meetings will be held in the mornings and afternoons. No fixed term has been set to the talks but it should be possible to finish them in about two days. The starting times of the second and subsequent sessions can be settled at the opening session. 10.30 a.m. and 3 p.m. seem appropriate.
2. Sir Con O'Neill will be the leader of the UK delegation. He will be supported by Mr. Ford and by Hr. Brind and Mr. Packenham from European Integration Department; by Mr. Britten and Mr. Perceval from Trade Policy Department; by Mr. Heath from Commodities Department; and by Mr. Laird and Mr. Kinnear from Hong Kong Department. It is proposed that the Department of Trade and Industry be represented throughout the meetings by Mr. Denman, Mr. Lam and Mr. Toms, and that Mr. Carey be present when matters concerning textiles are discussed. Mr. Hannay from the UK Delegation to the EEC (Brussels) will also attend the talks.
3. The Hong Kong delegation, which will be led by the Governor (Sir David Trench), will consist of Sir J. Cowperthwaite (Financial Secretary), Kr. Haddon-Cave (Financial Secretary designate), Mr. Cater (Director of Commerce and Industry, Hong Kong) Mr. Sellers (Hong Kong Government Office, London) Mr. Jones (Commercial Counsellor Hong Kong Affairs, Geneva) and Mr. Dodge (Assistant Director Commerce and Industry Department (HK), Brussels).
It is
4. The Agenda proposed by Hong Kong is attached. suggested that the order in which the various items are taken be settled at the beginning of the session on the Monday afternoon. Arrangements for the discussion requested by Hong Kong on the US Trade Bill and the US/Japan textile talks could be settled at the same time. Briefs are being cleared on Hong Kong and the C, the Generalised Preferences Scheme, textiles questions and (defensive) Hong Kong's position under
GATT.
5.
Mr.Royle will give a lunch for the Hong Kong delegation at Admiralty House on Monday 23 November.
Hong Kong Department 18 November, 1970.
CONFIDENTIAL