TNAG-0138-FCO40-174-Conduct-of-Hong-Kong-commercial-relations-1969 — Page 82

CYPHER/CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

ROUTINE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELEGRAM NUMBER 759

ΤΟ

HONG KONG

27 NOVEMBER 1969

(HKK 6/18)

CONFIDENTIAL

FOR NORMAN-WALKER FROM CARTER.

CONDUCT OF COMMERCIAL RELATIONS.

:

TOP COPY

SIR DAVID TRENCH WOULD LIKE YOUR VIEWS ON THE DRAFT STATEMENT (TEXT IN MIFT) WHICH HAS EMERGED FROM DISCUSSIONS HERE AND HAS BEEN PROVISIONALLY ACCEPTED AT OFFICIAL LEVEL BY DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING BOT AND MIN.TECH. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE THESE NOT LATER THAN 8 DECEMBER WHEN SIR DAVID RETURNS TO LONDON. HE HOPES THAT MERE TEXTUAL AMENDMENTS AS OPPOSED TO MATTERS OF SUBSTANCE CAN BE AVOIDED.

2. STATEMENT ORIGINALLY CONTAINED AN ADDITIONAL PARAGRAPH AS FOLLOWS:

WHEN HMG EITHER

(A) DETERMINES THAT HONG KONG'S VIEW AND INTERESTS MUST BE OVER-RIDDEN IN FAVOUR OF A SUPERIOR UK INTEREST, OR

(B) IS UNABLE, FOR REASONS OF UK POLICY, ADEQUATELY TO DEFEND

HONG KONG AGAINST ACTION BY OTHER COUNTRIES WHICH IS DAMAGING TO HONG KONG'S TRADING INTERESTS.

HMG AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL CONSIDER WHETHER ANY REMEDIAL MEASURES ARE APPROPRIATE.

3. THIS WAS OBJECTED TO NOT SO MUCH ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT WAS

UNREASONABLE AS THAT TO GAIN ACCEPTANCE FOR ITS INCLUSION MIGHT BE

VERY DIFFICULT AND GREATLY PREJUDICE ACCEPTANCE OF THE REMAINDER.

4. ON THE ASSUMPTION YOU HAVE NO VERY MAJOR POINTS ON WHICH TO

COMMENT SIR DAVID SEES NO REASON FOR COWPERTHWAITE TO COME TO LONDON

ON THIS ISSUE.

STEWART

FILE S

H.K.D.

COMMODITIES D.

SIR L. MONSON MR. WILFORD

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION

4 COPIES U.N.D.

COPIES TO:

H.K, GOVT. OFFICE

CONFIDENTIAL