PRIORITY
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 170640 Z
CONFIDENTIAL
[NEUTRAL]
mi
-1
102
CONFIDENTIAL
CROY 1/2
2+KK 6/8
1972
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 1074 OF 17 NOVEMBER/INFO UKMIS GENEVA
UKDEL EC BRUSSELS BRUSSELS (FOR DODGE) HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE. LONDON (FCO PLEASE PASS).
UKMIS GENEVA TELEGRAM NUMBER 608 TO YOU
LART
***
90
HONG KONG AND GATT AFTER 1 JANUARY 1973
JANUA
NOK)
REF.
103
1121)
HO HAS NOW REPORTED ON SIR F. MASON'S FURTHER EFFORT TO MOVE
LONG TOWARDS THE QUOTE TWO FLAGS UNQUOTE SOLUTION. HOWEVER, IN VIEW OF LONG'S NOT UNEXPECTED STAND, WE AGREE THAT THE AIM SHOULD NOW
BE TO ENSURE THE CONTINUATION OF THE PRESENT PRACTICE OF A MEMBER
OF THE UK DELEGATION SPEAKING FOR HONG KONG AS AND WHEN NECESSARY.
LONG'S AGREEMENT TO CIRCULATE TO THE CP'S A LETTER FROM HM AMBASSADOR- ON HONG KONG'S POSITION IS, OF COURSE, HELPFUL.
2. THE DRAFT OF THE PROPOSED LETTER (TEXT IN MIFT) WHICH HO BROUGHT
BACK FROM GENEVA IS ACCEPTABLE TO US.
3. WE NOTE THAT IT IS INTENDED TO RAISE THIS MATTER AT THE EEC
GATT COMMITTEE ON 30 NOVEMBER UNDER QUOTE OTHER BUSINESS UNQUOTE, TO DISTRIBUTE COPIES OF THE DRAFT AND TO SAY THAT, IN ORDER TO
ALLAY THE UNCERTAINTY AMONG OTHER DELEGATIONS IN GATT OVER HONG
KONG'S POSITION AFTER 1 JANUARY 1973 AS EVIDENCED BY THEIR INFORMAL
ENQUIRIES, IT IS PROPOSED TO ISSUE THE LETTER TO THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL FOR CIRCULATION TO THE CP'S. -
MACLEHOSE
[PASSED AS REQUESTED]
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION
COPIES TO:
TPD HKIOD
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFI CE
CONFIDENTIAL
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