- 14
58.
MI
Brüser said the EC was fully aware of the need to consult the Chinese on arrangements concerning the continuation of the EC office in Hong Kong after 1997. He also expected that
that the
Hong Kong Government would assist the EC when such a time came.
59.
Mr Edwards said that there were two possibilities in consulting the Chinese: either the EC could approach China direct or the British Government could raise the matter in the Joint Liaison
Group established under the Joint Declaration to deal with the transition. Both approaches had been used before and it would be up to the EC to consider nearer the time which method they preferred.
60.
The meeting adjourned at 1.00 pm.
Second day, 28 July 1993, 10.30am
61.
Mr Brüser welcomed the Hong Kong Delegation and handed over a sample of the laissez-passer issued by the Commission to Mrs Ip.
62.
Mr Brüser informed the Hong Kong Delegation that the EC would be prepared to confirm in writing that
in writing that the head of the EC
Office in Hong Kong would be amongst one of those who would be more
senior than over 50% of the heads of other missions and thus would
be a high officer. He would also be an officer with at least 15-20 years of experience in the Commission. This would indicate the degree of importance the EC was paying to Hong Kong.
63.
Mrs Ip said that following the previous day's discussion,
the Hong Kong Delegation had prepared a a draft exchange of letters with an annex setting out the proposed formulation of the Ps & Is to
be granted to the EC Office and its staff (Annex III). She distributed the draft and invited the EC delegation to look at it before discussing in detail.
64.
Mr Brüser said he
he felt the draft letter from the Governor
to President Delors
Delors should
should reflect the position that the present pragmatic approach was only a transitional solution. He said this
point was discussed heavily within the Commission before President
/Delors'