1
R&R
6/13
Dear Qarles,
CONFIDENT I AL
1. Stewart The Schill
puts a different complexion on
the native of my UNITED KINGDOM DELEGATION reply TO THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
6 RUE 4.
Redaly
B.u.
in one
Telephone: 19.11.65
week
to Mr. Jones
2616
26f6 24 June, 1969.
I recommend nor wait for
Hi Donnati's news
Hong Kong and the E.E.C.'s Common Commercial Policy
on Gan
dragt Sutur 2616
You will have seen Derek Jones's letter CR.4461/68 of 12 June to you, copied to us, about the handling of Hong Kong's interest in the evolution of the Community's common commercial policy. I am sorry that David Hannay's earlier letter of 27 March (which was passed to the Hong Kong office here) and my letter of 14 April (which was not) have not reached Hong Kong. I enclose copies of these.
2. I should make it clear from the outset that we see no harm at all, and indeed advantage, in the Hong Kong officer here keeping in constant contact with Ernst and hearing what he has to say about the evolution of the common commercial policy and its implications for Hong Kong. You will see from David Hannay's letter of 2 May that he merely questioned whether we should confine ourselves to "informal contacts via the Hong Kong office alone". The point being made here was, of course, that you and the Board of Trade might feel it wise to reinforce any negative noises of the sort that Jones made to Ernst in Hong Kong by similar but more formal sounds of disapproval from this Delegation, given H.M.G. 's present ultimate responsibility for Hong Kong's trade policy. But we would be entirely happy if you and the Department of Commerce and Industry in Hong Kong do not wish this.
3. I note also from Jones's letter and from the trend of the discussion with Ernst in Hong Kong (and also from what Jordan said in discussion with us here last week) that there is no disposition to aim at " an agreed position that would not prove unfavourable to Hong Kong"; there would seem to be no problem so long as we avoid the pitfall of giving Ernst views which he could afterwards allege represented Hong Kong acceptance of this or that proposed measure.
4. Finally I note that Jones refers in paragraph 10 of his letter to the slotting into H.M.G.'s overall position of Hong Kong's interest in British entry negotiations. Clearly an agreement to the opening of negotiations will create an entirely new situation in this field.
Yours
ever
Ferdy, Jalors
(F. H. Jackson)
LAST
RF
W. S. Carter, Esq., C.V.O.,
Hong Kong Department,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Copied to:- B. Goldsmith, Esq.,
Board of Trade.
D. J. C. Jones, Esq.,
Commerce and Industry Department, Hong Kong.
CONFIDENTIAL
# #
าง
IR CUTKY NO.51 26 JUN 1969
HKK 6/24
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