CONFIDENTIAL
DENT
PRIORITY
CYPHER/CAT A
FM UKMIS GENEVA 231520Z
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED BI REGISTYN.51
26 NOV 19/2
NEUTRAL
- NKK 6/8
TO PRIORITY F C O TEL NO 654
OF 23
NOVEMBER 1972.
INFO UKDEL EEC, HONG KONG
R.F.
HONG KONG'S FUTURE STATUS IN GATT
1. THE E E C COUNCIL SECRETARIAT HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THE MEETING OF THE G A T T AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PROPOSED FOR 30 NOVEMBER HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO 14 THE 113 COMMITTEE PLANNED FOR 1
DECEMBER, WHEN THE MEETING OF DECEMBER WILL ALSO BE HELD.
2. JAGSTAIDT SAID THAT HE SAW NO OBJECTION TO OUR WAITING
UNTIL 14 DECEMBER TO INFORM THE G A T T AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF OUR INTENTIONS REGARDING HONG KONG. THE G A T T SECRETARIAT
(TAYLOR, ASSISTANT SECRETARY-GENERAL) HAS ALSO SAID THAT FOR US TO DELAY UNTIL LATE IN DECEMBER THE LETTER WE ARE PROPOSING TO WRITE TO LONG WOULD CAUSE NO DIFFICULTY, THE SECRETARIAT NEEDS ONLY TWO DAYS TO TRANSMIT SUCH A LETTER TO THE CONTRACTING PARTIES. WE THEREFORE SUGGEST THAT THE TACTICS PREVIOUSLY AGREED SHOULD STAND, SUBJECT TO THE REPLACEMENT OF 38 NOVEMBER
BY 14 DECEMBER.
FCO PASS ADVANCE COPIES TO GOODFELLOW (HONG KONG AND INDIAN OCEAN DEPT) AND MISS ELLIOTT (CRE 1 DTI).
MASON
CADVANCED AS REQUESTED]
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION
ΤΡΟ HKIOD EID
CONFIDENTIAL