TNAG-0137-FCO40-173-Supply-of-political-and-economic-information-to-Hong-Kong-to-1969 — Page 60

Mr. St

36 mart

Reference........... MT 1/4

wart (Hong Kong Department)

I owe you a reply to your undated minute about the supply of political and economic information to Hong Kong: your reference is HKK 6/13.

[2. I am glad you agree that we should regard Hong Kong as sui generis. To my mind the most likely problem lies in the fact that there seems to be no clear-cut ruling as to how far Hong Kong and her com- mercial representatives overseas may operate indepen- dently in their commercial relations. I recall speaking to you on this subject on one occasion and your telling me that the constitutional position was not clear. Perhaps I misunderstood you on this but your latest minute does refer to the possibility of constitutional problems ahead and of differences of opinion with the Board of Trade.

If they arise, these problems will be for your department and not ours but I should be grateful if you could find time to set out the constitutional position as regards Hong Kong's commercial relations and the bilateral negotiations which she carries on with foreign countries.

JM-Кесий

(J. N. McKelvie) Trade Policy Department 1 April, 1969

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