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TO PRIORITY F C O TEL NO 648 OF 31 OCTOBER 1972 INFO U K DEL EEC, HONG KONG, BRUSSELS (FOR DODGE)
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HONG KONG'S STATUS 14 GATT AFTER 1 JANUARY, 1973
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HARTRIDGE'S LETTER OF 27 OCTOBER TO MISS ELLIOTT, D T I.
1. PATTERSON OF THE G ATT SECRETARIAT TODAY GAVE US THE SECRETARIAT'S UNOFFICIAL BUT CONSIDERED REACTION TO OUR PROPOSITION THAT HONG KONG'S FUTURE STATUS IN THE G A T T COULD BEST BE ENSURED BY MEANS OF THE QUOTE TWO FLAGS UNQUOTE SOLUTION, HE SAID THAT THEY SAW CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTIES IN IT, THE MAJOR ONE BEING THE QUESTION OF PRECEDENT AND THE POSSIBLE REACTION OF OTHER CONTRACTING PARTIES WITH RESPONSIBILITIES FOR COLONIAL TERRITORIES, THE SECRETARIAT WOULD. MUCH PREFER CONTINUATION OF THE PRESENT POSITION WHEREBY THE SPOKESMAN SITS WITHIN THE U K DELEGATIOR AND HONG KONG CLEARLY IDENTIFIES HIMSELF ORALLY WHEN
SPEAKING.
2. WE TOOK NOTE, BUT SUGGESTED THAT THIS SOLUTION MIGHT WELL BE UNACCEPTABLE TO THE E E C AND RESERVED THE RIGHT TO COME BACK TO FATTERSON WHEN THE SECRETARIAT'S REACTION HAD BEEN STUDIED IN
LONDON,
3. GRATEFUL TO KNOW HOW YOU NOW WISH US TO PROCEED.
4. FCO PASS HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE, LONDON.
MASON
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
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