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John Hall Esq
Aviation & Maritime Department
Foreign & Commonwealth Department
Whitehall
London
My Ref:
Your Ref:
153
20 July 1993
Min to HKD.
Bu
2617.
8427
*
Dear John
K
HONG KONG ́S NEGOTIATION WITH NEW COUNTRIES GRANTING OF GENERAL
PERMISSION
At the Annual Review of 22/23 June, attended by Messrs Goldman and Fielder, the Hong Kong Government asked for general permission to negotiate with new countries (ie those not covered by the separation programme) without seeking our permission on a case by case basis.
Currently Hong Kong approach us for permission each time they wish to negotiate with a country where there are no existing arrangements with the UK covering Hong Kong. This is in the main a rubber stamp operation and, having canvassed the bilateral branches in IAD, we feel that we could support such a request. This would not, of course, absolve HKG from having to obtain the Foreign Secretary's specific authorization to sign any ASA arising from such negotiations and we would, therefore, need to ensure that HKG kept us informed of progress.
Before we can take this matter forward we shall need to have the agreement of Hong Kong Department and a draft from FCO Legal I would be most grateful if you could progress this.
Advisers.
quene Othe
MSA
184/393/2
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2 6 JUL 1993
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MS JOANNE OTHICK
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