4.
5.
we do not object to its inclusion in the list;
but we
would like there to be some indication, perhaps in a footnote,
of the territory's constitutional status.
The second problem concerns the nature of UK representation
in Hong Kong. The reference to the UK as one of the member
states with diplomatic representation in Hong Kong givesa
misleading impression of the function of the senior representative
of the UK Government in Hong Kong, the British Trade Commissioner
(who is of course quite separate from the Government of Hong
Kong, headed by the Governor) For consitutional reasons the
only functions which the British Trade Commissioner is allowed
to perform are those of pure trade promotion; he is not
allowed to engage in commercial diplomatic activity with the
Hong Kong Government, nor to prepare economic reports etc.
So he cannot participate fully in the preparation of EC
Commercial Counsellors' reports etc. It would be most
helpful if in the list of member states' representation in Hong
Kong, the limitation of the functions of the British Trade
Commissioner could be made clear.
I hope that you will be able to arrange that future
editions of the list of member states' representation in third
countries could draw attention, perhaps in footnotes, both
to the constitutional status of Hong Kong and to the limited
functions of the British Trade Commissioner. This will help
to avoid the risk of misunderstanding on the part of readers.