HKK 6/24
(10
Hong Kong Department
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London S.W.1
25 June, 1969
!
We spoke on the telephone about Hannay's letter of 2 May to Ingram in which he expressed misgivings about Hong Kong holding informal discussions with Ernst on the Community's common commercial policy and its possible impact on Hong Kong. This particular point was taken up in Derek Jones' letter to me of 12 June (copies to Bob Goldsmith and Ingram) reporting on his discussions with Ernst- in Hong Kong and I understand you have seen that letter.
S
I told you that I thought we could perhaps close the exchange on this narrow aspect if I were to reply briefly to Derek Jones on the lines of the enclosed draft particularly since Jordan covered the point in discussions last week with U.K. Delegation Brussels and reported that they were apparently satisfied that Hannay's fears were misconceived.
I do not deal in my draft with the much wider issue of the timing of a formal approach to the Commission about the implications of their common commercial policy for Hong Kong. It seems to me that such a step is neither practicable nor desirable until we have a much clearer and authoritative idea of what the Community intends to do. You may have touched on this point in your discussions today with Jordan. It is a matter on which we need perhaps to consult Hong Kong without further delay (see paragraph 11 of Derek Jones' letter); it would be helpful in the first instance to have your department's views.
I am copying this letter to Ingram.
D. I. Dunnett, Esq., CMG.
OBE.,
Board of Trade.
LACT
REF.
#EXT
CEF.
12
(W. S. Carter)
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