GR 280
FLASH
CYPHER CAT A
FM F C O 111920Z
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 121/616/1
15 NOV
PA
32m
CONFIDENTIAL
TO FLASH UKREP BRUSSELS TELNO 2398 OF 11 NOVEMBER.
TEXTILES: NEGOTIATIONS WITH HONG KONG,
YOUR TELS NOS 6769 AND 6770.
BIED 320
320,
(325
1. PLEASE SPEAK URGENTLY TO THE COMMISSION ON THE FOLLOWING LINES.
2. YOU SHOULD STRESS THE SERIOUSNESS WITH WHICH WE VIEW THE POSITION NOW REACHED IN THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH HONG KONG. WE DO NOT READ THE NOTE VERBALE ADDRESSED BY HONG KONG TO THE COMMISSION OF 11 NOVEMBER AS REQUESTING A FORMAL NOTIFICATION OF THE SUSPENSION OF THE NEGOTIATIONS AND HAVE SEPARATE CONFIRMATION FROM THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT THAT THEY DO NOT SO REGARD IT. WE
THEREFORE REQUEST THE COMMISSION TO MAKE NO FORMAL STATEMENT WHICH
COULD HARDEN THE POSITION,
3. WE HAVE BEEN DOING ALL WE CAN TO PREVENT A FORMAL BREAK DOWN AND ARE OURSELVES URGING HONG KONG TO RESUME MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF THE COMMISSION COULD NOW INVITE THE HONG KONG DELEGATION BACK TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE WITHOUT
PREJUDICE TO THE POSITION OF EITHER PARTY.
4. ONCE THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE RESUMED WE BELIEVE THAT THE RIGHT COURSE IS FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SEEK TO CARRY MATTERS RAPIDLY TO
A CONCLUSION IN THE NEXT ROUND BY FOLLOWING UP THE COMMISSION'S
PUBLIC STATEMENT THAT RESERVES ARE IN HAND FOR HONG KONG.
/AGREEMENT
CONFIDENTIAL