TNAG-0138-FCO40-174-Conduct-of-Hong-Kong-commercial-relations-1969 — Page 137

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

W(B)L. 51-7406

9.

?

including tariff /poking quote)

12.

The President of the Board of Trade

carries a similar responsibility for the United Kingdom's external commercial relations and

poker

Boliey. He would no doubt regard it as his ultimate responsibility to decide whether any territory for which HMG is responsible should be allowed to pursue a course divergent from, and possibly prejudicial to, HMG's commercial policy objectives.

13.

mrosed Ministerial

The Board of Trade will concentrate on overseas trade and export PM's briefy

promotion, including the many activities which contribute invisible earnings to the balance of payments. Thus, in addition to its responsibilities for external commercial policy including tariff policy) and export policy and services, the Board of Trade will fetain responsibility for civil aviation, shipping, tourism, hotels and insurance.

on

7x169.

It

constitutional responsibility for deciding what Hong Kong should do rests primarily with the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary.

is considered that this constitutional fact

must determine the way in which such conflicts

are resolved, subject of course to the right

of the President of the Board of Trade to

raise the matter in Cabinet if he considers

the issue to be of such importance that he cannot accept the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary's decision.

Possible Changes in Existing Arrangements

15. On the assumption that formal devolution of authority (particularly of a far-reaching, autonomous character) is regarded as unnecessary (if not undesirable) and that an acceptable formula can be found for the

settlement of conflicts of interest that must

arise under existing arrangements, it is necessary to consider whether :

(a)

These arrangements for the exercise

by Hong Kong in practice of a measure

of authority should be extended and/or improved.

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MA

(b)

To what extent, short of a formal

16.

definition of that authority, the

statement agreed in August may need

amendment.

The case for giving Hong Kong the widest

possible measure of authority in practice

/ rests

...

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.