$15
TOP COPY
741
GRS 250
CONFIDENTIAL
FM BONN
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 331
OF 17153OZ APRIL 86
CONFIDENTIAL
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, HONG KONG, UKMIS GENEVA, UKREP BRUSSELS
MY TELEGRAM NUMBER 310 AND TELEPHONE CONVERSATION
SMITH (HKGD)/FORBES MEYLER: HONG KONG AND GATT
1. ECONOMIC COUNSELLOR TOOK ACTION YESTERDAY WITH ABEL, FEDERAL ECONOMICS MINISTRY, LEAVING SPEAKING NOTE BASED ON YOUR TELNO 170 TO CANBERRA.
2. ABEL REACTED SYMPATHETICALLY. THE CONTINUED PROSPERITY OF HONG
KONG AND ITS COMMITMENT TO THE WORLD FREE TRADE SYSTEM WERE OF
IMPORTANCE. HE THOUGHT IT INCONCEIVABLE THAT THE FRG COULD OPPOSE A
MEASURE AGREED BETWEEN THE UK AND CHINA DESIGNED TO REINFORCE THEM.
HE WAS HOWEVER GRATEFUL FOR BEING KEPT INFORMED.
3. HE ADDED THAT THE FRG WAS INTERESTED IN THE PROBLEM OF CHINA
RESUMING ITS MEMBERSHIP OF THE GATT, BUT RECOGNISED THAT THIS WAS A
SEPARATE ISSUE AND SHOULD IN NO WAY PREJUDICE REACTIONS TO OUR
PRESENT DEMARCHE.
4. HEAD OF CHANCERY TOOK PARALLEL ACTION TODAY WITH SCHEEL
( AUSWAERTIGES AMT). REACTION WAS AGAIN SYMPATHETIC. SCHEEL NOTED THAT THE FRG HAD WELCOMED THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT ON THE FUTURE
OF HONG KONG, AND COULD BE EXPECTED TO GIVE POLITICAL SUPPORT TO A
MEASURE ON WHICH BOTH COUNTRIES HAD AGREED.
5. WE HAVE KEPT THE CHINESE EMBASSY HERE INFORMED, PUT DO NOT KNOW WHETHER, IF AT ALL, THEY PROPOSE TO TAKE PPARALLEL ACTION. WE SHALL
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THEM.
BULLARD
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
DEP HD/PUSD
HD/PUSD
RD (MR WALKER)
COPIES TO:- MR ROBERTS
MR FIFOOT
MR WOOD
MR PEIRCE
MR MALLABY
NEWS DEPT
LEGAL ADVISERS
LEGAL ADVISERS
ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFICI
CABINET OFFICE
MR DRC CHRISTOPHER CABINET OFFICE SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR RENTON
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
SIR J FREELAND
MR WILSON MR CROWLEY
PUSD
CONFIDENTIAL
HKR 122/1 RECEIVED IN Registry 1 8 APR 1986
INDLA
OFFICER
PA
Action Taken
ABO