FIDENTIAL
2.
I
arises what rank the senior man should be given.
I do not suggest it should be that of Minister. see how otherwise he can have the access that he needs. And it is of course highly relevant that he will be on his own and normally speaking will not have the back-up of a Minister or Ambassador in the sort of work we want him to do either in Brussels or in the capitals, in quite the same way that one of the Embassy or Delegation staff would have. This stems from the difficult position of the UK Delegation and of HM Ambassadors in EEC countries; helpful though they have been, they can scarcely be expected to do more than a certain amount for Hong Kong. Though these are the real reasons, a basis for argument it is relevant that Hong Kong is now well into the top 20 in world trade, and that in 1973 its total trade with the Community was US$2100 m. and Hong Kong exports to the Community US$1,100 m.
6.
as
I quite understand that ministerial rank might be held to make for difficulties in the UK office to which he was attached, but hope that since he would be sui generis, and only nominally on the
We would roll, not too much need be made of this. undertake that he would keep his distance and not get in the way of other titular British Ministers either in Brussels or the capitals of members.
7.
Wherever the Hong Kong representative is located he will obviously have to make his own way, and his attachment to one UK office or another would be largely a matter of form. In practice his principle contacts in Brussels will always be with the Commission and with the Office of the UK Representative but so far, while being most helpful in practical ways, the latter has preferred that formally the Hong Kong man should be attached to the Embassy. The latter have been very good about giving shelter and administrative support to Dodge, but I think it is now worth considering whether there would not be some advantage in adopting a different arrangement.
8.
You will recall that when Britain joined the Community the position of the UK as a Member State and at the same time responsible for Hong Kong,
CONF DENTIAL