GR 600 IMMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 111109Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
TO IMMEDIATE F.C.0 TELNO.1123 OF 11 NOVEMBER,
INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP BRUSSELS.
PERSONAL FROM GOVERNOR.
YOUR TELNO.805 : E.E.C/HONG KONG TEXTILES.
3157
CA
НКК
#KK 121/616/1
15 NOV
INDLA
See
a love
322(326
1. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION YOU HAVE GIVEN THIS ISSUE AND FOR YOUR ASSURANCES OF SUPPORT.
2. I HAVE TODAY TOLD OUR NEGOTIATING TEAM TO RETURN TO HONG KONG, THIS IS NOT, I ASSURE YOU, IN DISREGARD OF YOUR REQUEST FOR MY ASSURANCE ON YOUR SUGGESTED STRATEGY CONCERNING THE RESUMPTION AND CONDUCT OF THE NEGOTIATIONS, BUT A PHYSICAL AND THERAPEUTIC NECESSITY.
WE ARE MAKING IT AS CLEAR AS WE CAN (IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL YESTERDAY AND IN A PRESS RELEASE TODAY) THAT WE ARE NOT BREAKING OFF, WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE
INDEFINITE SUSPENSION OF THE NEGOTIATIONS BY THE COMMUNITY TO
BRING BACK OUR DELEGATION FOR A REST AND CALLOVER WITH COLLEAGUES.
THEY HAVE BEEN ABROAD FOR FIVE WEEKS AND ARE PHYSICALLY AND
MENTALLY TIRED. I ALSO SEE SOME VALUE IN HAVING PERSONAL
REPORTS TO SUPPLEMENT THE TELEGRAMS WHICH DO NOT ALWAYS GIVE THE FULL PICTURE, FRANKLY I THINK THE E.E.C TEAM WOULD BE THE BETTER FOR A BREAK TOO.
3. WE HAVE SAID PUBLICLY THAT THE TEAM WILL BE READY TO FLY BACK TO BRUSSELS AT SHORT NOTICE WHEN THE E.E.C INDICATES IT IS READY TO START MEANINGFUL NEGOTIATIONS AGAIN: AND THAT IN THE MEANTIME WE HOPE THE E.E.C WILL REFLECT SERIOUSLY ON THE VERY REAL CONCESSIONS THAT HONG KONG HAS OFFERED AND THE PROBLEMS IT HAS IDENTIFIED.
4. I HOPE THIS WILL ALL BE UNDERSTOOD AND ACCEPTED. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS ASIDE, IT IS BOUND TO BE SOME DAYS BEFORE THE EFFECTS OF YOUR EFFORTS AND THOSE OF MR DELL WITH DAVIGNON WORK THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND BEFORE THEY DO IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE
CONFIDENTIAL
/PRESENCE