CONFIDENTIAL
measures in a situation where Britain had done everything possible to protect her, but she was suffering because of the intransigence of the Six. Mr. Cowperthwaite maintained that Hong Kong yould have no responsibility to retaliate against something which arose as a result of British entry into the Community. Britain's responsibility for Hong Kong would not be altered by her membership. It would, therefore, be quite wrong for Britain to regard possible retaliation by Hong Kong in any sense as an alternative to British action to protect the Colony. Whether in the last resort Hong Kong should retaliate would be a matter for her alone to decide. Mr Gallagher said that in all likelihood Ministers, when deciding the line to be taken in Brussels, would want some assessment of the scope and effectiveness of possible retaliatory action by Hong Kong.
Publicity
11.
•
Mr. Cowperthwaite said that the Hong Kong Delegation would let the British Delegation have a note of what he
proposed to say on his return to Hong Kong. (A copy of the note, in the form in which it was eventually agreed, is attached).
12. The meeting was then concluded.
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.