4.
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presidency of the EEC: the Community might appear to be attacking Canada.
Peter Tsao explained to Healey the framework within which Hong Kong conducts its own external commercial relations (the "Jordan/Part Treaty" of 1969, a copy of which is enclosed), and further said that whatever the constitutional position might be, the proper channel for passing instructions to the Hong Kong delegation was via the Hong Kong Government. After Healey had consulted his colleagues, he appeared to take the point and agreed not to insist on any charges.
5.
I am reporting this incident in detail not in criticism of Healey who took our point and with whom the issue is now closed, but to draw three general conclusions.
6.
The first is that, in our view, UK
delegations to ESCAP ought to be briefed on the significance of Hong Kong's presence as an associate member. In other words, the Hong Kong delegation is not part of the HK delegation (although both delegations liase closely).
7.
The second is that the UK delegation ought also to be breifea on the agreed framework in which the Hong Kong Government conducts its external commercial relations.
about time the
The bogey is that Kong may consider by virtue of the
As far as I know,
8.
And third, it really is BEC bogey should be laid for good. other countries criticised by Hong they are being attacked by the EEC UK's presidency of the Commission. no one has ever taken Hong Kong's words in such a way. In all the circumstances of Hong Kong, it would be a pretty tortuous mind that did.
9.
We shall certainly brief our future delegations on these points. But more important is to prevent a recurrence of such a deplorable incident. In sympathy with the practice of other ESCAP countries, we like our delegation to be headed by an Unofficial Member of Legislstive Council for the first few days. Lee, although to put it mildly taken aback, took Healey's approach with much sense. There are others who would not have done so.
You
Encls.
(D.G. Jeaffreson)
Secretary for Economic Services
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