109
14 July 1977
H J Arbuthnot Esq EID
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Foreign and Commonwealth Office King Charles Street London SW1
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I would like to draw your attention to the third paragraph of the attached letter from Derek March in the Trade Commission in Hong Kong. It is not of course his job to defend in detail the position of the British Government in the MPA negotiations. The presentation of HMGs policies in Hong Kong is for the Govern- ment of Hong Kong, if this was the case) Dorward was quite wrong to expose Derek to attack from angry Hong Kong manufacturers. However, it is unrealistic to expect that the Hong Kong Govern- ment, whose position is very different from ours, will defend HMGS line on textiles effectively. I therefore think it impor tant that the Trade Commission in Hong Kong should be supplied with copies of the relevant telegrams and background papers on the MFA.
2 I have discussed this matter with John Stern in the past. It seems to me that it would fall more appropriately to EID to keep the interests of the British Trade Commission in mind. If you disagree, would you let me know? Certainly all concerned ought to be aware that telegrams addressed to Hong Kong do not automatically go to BTC Hong Kong, and vice versa.
3 I am sending copies of this letter and of the enclosure to John Stewart in Hong Kong Department, David Elliott in UKREP Brussels and Eric Wright in CRE 1 here.
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