HKK 040/2
RECENT
STRY
31 JAN 1986
GRS 175
CONFIDENTIAL
FM UKREP BRUSSELS
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 293
OF 291542Z JANUARY 86
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
INFO ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA, HONG KONG
FCO TELNO 168 TO HONG KONG: HONG KONG AND THE GATT
DRAWING
1. AS ARRANGED, WE BRIEFED LUYTEN (DGI) THIS MORNING, GENERALLY ON REPORTS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP MEETING EARLIER THIS MONTH (TELEGRAMS COPIED TO US BY THE DEPARTMENT) TO EXPLAIN UK OBJECTIVES AND THE CURRENT SITUATION.
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2. WE EMPHASISED THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE AT A VERY DELICATE STAGE, AND THAT IF ANY SUGGESTION THAT WE WERE 'LOBBYING'' REACHED THE CHINESE, IT COULD HAVE ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES. WE TOLD HIM THAT WE WOULD NOT (NOT) BRIEF OUR MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS UNTIL MATTERS WERE FURTHER ADVANCED. THE ACCOUNT WAS FOR LUYTEN'S PERSONAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION ONLY, IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY RISK OF CROSSING WIRES WHEN THE QUESTION OF CHINA'S GATT MEMBERSHIP WAS BEING CONSIDERED.
3. LUYTEN WAS GRATEFUL FOR THE BRIEFING. HE EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR OUR OBJECTIVES IN THE NEGOTIATIONS, AND UNDERTOOK TO OBSERVE COMPLETE DISCRETION ON THE MATTER (WE AGREED TO HIS SUGGESTION THAT HE SHOULD LET ABBOTT KNOW IN GENERAL TERMS HOW MATTERS STOOD, BUT WITHOUT PUTTING ANYTHING IN WRITING).
HANNAY
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
ECD ()
RESEARCH D (FE)
D/HD PUSD
MP WILSON
MR RENWick
CONFIDENTIAL
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