572
Ruff
Mr Rough, ERD
(41
OECD/HONG KONG: PROBABLE APPLICATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORK OF THE TRADE COMMITTEE
1.
Thank you for your minute of
Mr MacInnes letter of 24 May to Mr Tebbit.
2.
inviting comments on
You may recall that there was an exchange of correspondence between DTI and HKD in December 1992 on the issue of closer links between Hong Kong and OECD. At that time DTI were concerned that after 1997 Hong Kong would be part of China, and that the conduct of its external relations could be expected to reflect and advance Chinese interest.) HKD's view was, and remains, that it would not be consistent with the Government's policy towards Hong Kong to question Hong Kong's commercial autonomy after 1997, and that it is incumbent on HMG to support a closer relationship with OECD if this is in the interests of Hong Kong's continued economic and social stability. I attach a copy of my minute of 8 December to Ms O'Connell.
3. I suggest that when Mr MacInnes meets Mr Wong he should say that HMG would support in principle a formal application from Hong Kong to engage in the work of the Trade Committee as a participating observer. He might ask Mr Wong whether HKG would follow up with applications to participate in the "horizontal" work of the Trade Committee, and whether the HKG had considered whether to brief the Chinese in advance of any application, and the likely Chinese reaction.
He right who erqué
have
NC G Whitney
Hong Kong Department
WH 304 270 2651
2 June 1993
CC
*
REC
INDE.
HKB
091/3
15 JUL 1993
rou.min.ADM
SLM