CONFIDENTIAL
1. I agree very much with Mr Stuart. The key points seem
to me to be that the expectation in Hong Kong is that we will
pursue now the aim of eliminating discrimination against them;
and that the political damage would be done if we commenced
discrimination against Hong Kong, without having done our utmost
to avoid having to do so. Unless we succeed in this round the
discrimination will begin on 1 January 1974 and I do not believe
that a promise to start pressing for its removal later that
year would be sufficient to avoid that damage.
It was my
understanding that it was the need to avoid this political
damage which led Mr Royle to conclude that we should press the
Hong Kong case during the adaptation discussions rather than
wait until next year. I very much hope therefore that it can
be agreed that we should both present and argue the Hong Kong
case in the Community now.
3 October 1973
Copies to:
PS to Mr Royle
EYoude
Sir Duncan Watson
Mr J Robinson
Mr Butler
1. I am grateful to Mr Youde for an opportunity to put what is
inevitably my opposite point of view.
CONFIDENTIAL
/2.