CONFIDENTIAL
Reference..
17
Mr. Kinnear, Hong Kong Department
Meeting with Hong Kong officials
to discuss our EEC negotiations.
Following our meeting last week, it might be useful if I set down our understanding of the arrangements for the 23 November meeting with Hong Kong officials:
(a)
Mr. Rippon will chair at least part of the first session, at which the Governor will also be present. Thereafter Sir C. O'Neill will chair discus- sions on EEC aspects, and Mr. Bottomley will chair other sessions.
Discussions will probably deal with:
(b)
(i)
(ii)
UNCTAD Scheme for Generalised references
EEC negotiating position
(iii) Textiles cotton and non-cotton
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
Delegation of authority/constitutional relation- ship
GATT rights/compensation for loss of preference
Hong Kong's sterling balances
(c) We agreed that we would prepare a brief on (i). It would aim to cover a wide field defensively transition period, Commonwealth preferences, immigration and brief on certain positive points a declaration of our continued responsibility for Hong Kong after entering the enlarged Community, our pressure at the negotiating table for Hong Kong's inclusion within the UNCTAD Scheme and our efforts, jonce inside the Community, to prevent future EEC policy towards Hong Kong becoming less liberal.
(a) You agreed to prepare a brief on (iv), and the remainder would be farmed out around whitehall, mainly to the TI, with whom you would be in touch.
2. I hope all this agrees with your own understanding.
copied to:
r. Battiscombe;
Makenham
(M. A. Pakenham)
European integration Department
10 November, 1970.
Mr. Perceval (TED); Mr. Streeton (MVD)
dr. Sloman (Commodities Dept.)