09-SEP-1993 10:13
UKREP EL BRUSSELS
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Summing up the discussion, Mr Bruser noted that both sides had reached broad agreement on the draft list of Ps & Is in Annex III except for paras 6, 7, 11, 12 and 15. The EC would reflect further on those points and consult the relevant authorities in the hierarchy. Once all the comments were ready, he would fax them directly to Mrs Ip in Hong Kong. This would be before 15 August when the relevant officials would go on leave. If the outstanding
difficulties could not be resolved by correspondence, an EC Delegation would be sent to Hong Kong to resume talks, with a view to concluding an agreement before the end of September, in time for the opening of the office by Commissioner Van den Broek in mid-October. However, he did not envisage that a second round would
be necessary.
95.
Mr Kuijper said he would need to
to reflect further on the
draft exchange of letters and the legal language on the Ps & Is in Annex III. He would also need to consult his legal colleague on the
latter's return from Washington the following week. Initially he thought it might be necessary to make the exchange more formal to reflect clearly the legal basis for agreement. He might also amend some wordings of the formulation for the Ps & Is to put it in a more
"neutral" fashion.
96.
Mrs Ip said she looked forward to receiving the comments
from the EC. Hong Kong would in the meantime consider EC's suggestion on certain other points raised during the meeting.
97.
Mr Brüser reiterated that since a long-term solution had to
be worked out with the Chinese in due course, the exchange of
letters should reflect that the present arrangements would only be a quick and transitional solution and that the Hong Kong Government
would make every effort to ensure Chinese agreement to the
continuation of the Ps & Is granted to the EC Office after 1997.
98.
Mr Edwards pointed out that it would not be to the EC's advantage if the arrangements worked out looked too transitional and it might also pose difficulties for future negotiations with the Chinese. He said the objective was to set up the office as quickly
/as