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tend to put the wrong emphasis on the talks. A meeting
chaired in the FCO would inevitably tend to stress the
constitutional connection and the UK's responsibility to
promote Hong Kong's best commercial interests. Although
the latter is undoubtedly true such an approach is perhaps
more appropriate for the Governor and the Colonial Secretary.
I attach a list of the subjects which Mr Jordan has told
the Hong Kong Government Office he wishes to raise. AS
will be seen, these are almost all subjects in which the
DTI have a prime responsibility and on a practical level
DTI can provide most information. An exception is Item (e) -
Harmonisation of the UK and EEC's GSP. The Governor raised
this subject with the Secretary of State in September, the
Prime Minister has endorsed the Ministerial recommendation
that we should concentrate our effort on obtaining benefits
for Hong Kong in the 1974 review. We should not wish
Mr Jordan to think we would not be prepared to discuss this
subject but in fact there remains very little that we can
add.
4. Mr Jordan has also suggested that he might call on
Mr Royle and the PUS on 10/11 December. Mr Royle will be
pleased to see him then. Mr Youde and Sir D Watson may
like to see Mr Jordan then which should be sufficient for
Mr Jordan not to feel that senior levels in the FCO do not
wish to spare him time.
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15. In the