lines, the question arises whother a United Kingdom presence at Hong Kong during the Stans' visit is desirable. The line which we wish Hong Kong to take is in the same direction es the line which she is evidently already inclined to take, but it appears to be the case that we would not happily leave Hong Kong entirely to her own devices.
B..
Arguments for U.K. Participation
These are principally:
(a) The presence of a U.K. representative would give moral support to Hong Kong, demonstrating that she was not negotiating single handed against the United States, and underlining H.M.0. a overall responsibility.
#
(b) The presence of a U.K, representative would encourage Hong Kong to take a stiffer line, which is what we
want them to do.
(c) We have a strong interest in having as full a record as possible of what passes between the United States and Hong Kong on an issue of this kind.
9.
Arguments arainst U.K. Participation
These are principally:
(a) The presence of a U.K. representative might tend to detract from the authority of the Hong Kong representatives at the table. The U.S. participants might feel that they were not getting Hong Kong's own reactions, but rather Hong Kong views tempered by U.K. influence. In particular, while these talks do not have the character of negotiations, there is a case for extending as opportunity offers the authority to negotiate independently which Hong Kong has long enjoyed over cotton textiles, to other fields, on the grounds that it may prove desirable to create precedents suggesting that
The terms of Hong Kong has acquired de facto GATT rights. Hong Kong's participation in the GATT are such that Hong Kong enjoys no GATT rights vis-a-vis the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong representatives have expressed fears, which though perhaps exaggerated seem not entirely groundless, lest if the United Kingdom joins the Common Market Hong Kong may be
/ deemed
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.