TNAG-0237-FCO40-273-Trade-relations-between-EEC-and-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 146

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nevertheless be advantage in holding a first round of talks in

Brussels, whether or not these were with commitment on the

part of the EEC.

3.

Dorward arrived from Hong Kong on 23 January and we

held discussions on tactics in Geneva. He then proceeded to

Brussels on 24 January where he held further talks on this

and other matters with Dodge. I joined them on 25th and on

the morning of the 26th we paid a courtesy call on Sir John

Beith, H.M. Ambassador to Belgium, and held discussions with

Hannay.

4.

Ernst had in the meantime informed Dodge that, as he had

anticipated, he had not been able to acquire a full mandate

for discussions and therefore wished to hold purely informal

talks. This we accepted. He invited us to lunch where he

was accompanied by two members of his staff, Ravenna, charged

with textile matters, and Beinhardt, responsible for relation

with the Far East (and specifically Japan and Hong Kong which

are grouped together in one sub-section). During the lunch

Ernst stressed, as is his wont, that he was and would be

speaking on a personal basis.

He also suggested that, since

we were to be consulting on such a basis, we might with profit

consider beyond cotton textiles the relevance of the common

import policy to future EEC relations with Hong Kong. We made

it perfectly clear that we had no instructions in this regard

but said we were prepared to listen.

5.

Although we had originally set aside the afternoon of the

26th and the morning of the 27th for the consultations, Ernst

pleaded that, since he was leaving on the afternoon of the 27th

for Bonn, it would be very helpful if we could continue throu

on the 26th until we had finished our business. We met in his

office with Ravenna and were joined by Lehembre, an official

from the Directorate General for Industry.

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/Cotton Textiles