J
Our Ref: CR/EIC 230/20/1 V
DECOY D
NEXT
REF. FROM THE
(123
123) (335)
DRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUS
R
N 52
29 JUL:974
HKK6/598/1
Dear Andrew,
(62)
HONG KONG
2015
121
See repls
Des
9th July 1974
386)? at Is)
Js
Memorandum on the EEC GSP
26/7
It was in our telegram 385 of 29th March that we first proposed that a memorandum should be presented. We proposed then that I might present it in some capitals in the week after our April meeting in London.
During my visit to London it became clear to me that we weren't going to get agreement to present the memorandum as soon as that so I suggested that it might be presented later by Ambassadors. I was after presentation at as high a level as could be arranged but I did see and mention the political benefit of the UK being seen to be doing its best for Hong Kong.
63
(66)
The U.K. representatives were non-committal on this and on timing but we agreed that a smaller group should con- sider the actual draft. When they did this they retained the opening "HMG in the UK has already stated in the Council of Ministers its determination to press resolutely
...
11
•
In our telegram 585 of 31st May we said that 'to have any effect it (the memorandum) will need to be presented at a pretty senior level, and I hope you will feel able to arrange for Embassies to do this' and went on to say
"In addition to getting HK a better hearing in
the EEC capitals this exercise would underline here that HMG is serious in defending HK's inter- ests and we would wish to give it a measure of publicity."
In reply, in your telegram 522, you said "we continue to have reservations about the proposal that this should be done by Embassies", but as I said you never explained to us why.
www
In your next telegram (542) you proposed that the memorandum should be presented to the Commission first by Dorward or Dodge and that if and when it was presented in capitals it 'would be best for a HK official to undertake this'.
-
The only reason given for this was in your telegram 558 for maximum effect the memorandum should be presented both to the Commission and in due course to Governments by a HK official .... The time has come for the HK authorities to complement the action we have already taken!
In our/