HKK. RECEIV
040/2
3 MAR 1936
DELA
INDEX
PA
ז חי
ثم
CONFIDENTIAL
ZCZC
MILNAN 9067 OCMIAN 9067
CONFIDENTIAL
00 PEKIN
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
271730Z FEB 86
GRS 464
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 397
OF 271730Z FEBRUARY 86
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKMIS GENEVA, UKREP BRUSSELS
19067 - 1
JOINT LIAISON GROUP III: HONG KONG AND GATT
1.
WE
AS YOU KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN SOME RECENT ENCOURAGING REPORTS WHICH SUGGEST THAT THE CHINESE MIGHT AGREE TO OUR PROPOSALS ON HONG KONG AND THE GATT AT JLG III (11-14 MARCH). NEED TO CONSIDER CAREFULLY WHAT WE SHOULD AIM TO SAY PUBLICLY AFTER THE MEETING, AND WHAT ACTION WE SHOULD TAKE WITH THE GATT SECRETARIAT AND WITH TRADING PARTNERS IF AGREEMENT IS REACHED.
2.
IF THE CHINESE DO AGREE AT JLG III TO OUR PROPOSAL WE WILL NO DOUBT BOTH WANT AN ENCOURAGING REFERENCE IN THE PRESS COMMUNIQUE. WE WILL NOT HOWEVER WISH TO REVEAL IN THE COMMUNQUE THE DETAIL OF OUR AGREEMENT ON THE ARTICLE XXVI(5)(C) ROUTE, SINCE IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO BRIEF BOTH OUR TRADING PARTNERS AND THE GATT SECRETARIAT ABOUT WHAT IS PROPOSED BEFORE ANY SUCH ANNOUNCEMENT. IF WE FAIL TO DO THIS BEFORE MAKING A PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT WE RISK UNSIGHTED REACTIONS WHICH COULD BE DAMAGING. AS SOON AS THE DETAILED MECHANISM IS REVEALED THE PRESS WILL NO DOUBT START TO QUESTION EXPERTS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF OTHER
WE DO NOT WANT THEM TO GET THE COUNTRIES ABOUT ITS FEASIBILITY.
WRONG ANSWERS.
1
CONFIDENTIAL
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