CONFIDENTIAL
Х
Minister Please see
my
Lite
attached.
2619
THE EUROPEAN CASE
8. The European side, while agreeing that it is possible as a
matter of Community law to re-open the matter (Annex C), consider
however that there is an over-riding political objection to this
course because it would involve seeking amendment of the terms on
which we acceded to the Communities. In any case, their estimate,
which is shared by our Permanent Representation in Brussels, is
that we would not get the amendment. So while trying to get it
(and failing) would temporarily ease our relations with the Hong
Kong Government, it would not help Hong Kong in practice. At the
same time it would put HMG in very considerable difficulties, both
domestically and internationally. Domestically because the
Opposition would be quick to say that if the terms of our Accession
could be varied for Hong Kong they could be varied for the United
Kingdom. Internationally, because other Commonwealth countries
would take the same line. We avoided difficulty with India,
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Ottawa only by holding firmly to the
line (on the Secretary of State's instructions) that on 1 January
1974 we had no alternative but to begin to raise our tariffs against
them according to the terms of our accession. It might also open
the door to pressure from our Community partners to change aspects
of the treaty which they did not like.
9. The European side of the Office consider, therefore, that the
question should not be re-opened.
CONFIDENTIAL
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