TNAG-0237-FCO40-273-Trade-relations-between-EEC-and-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 168

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3. ERNST IS CLEARLY ANXIOUS TO MAINTAIN THE DIALOGUE WITH REPRESENT-

ATIVES OF HONG KONG AND, AS FAR AS APPROPRIATE, WITH US, THOUGH HE

RECOGNISES THAT THERE WILL PROBABLY NOT BE MUCH MORE TO BE SAID ON

OUR SIDE UNTIL A DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN IN GENEVA ON THE EXTENSION

OF THE L T A. HE IS, OF COURSE, WELL AWARE THAT HONG KONG IS A SIG-

NATORY OF THE L T A IN ITS OWN RIGHT: BUT THERE WOULD PERHAPS BE NO

HARM IN SEEKING TO KEEP CLEARLY IN HIS MIND THE IMPORTANCE WHICH THE

BRITISH GOVERNMENT ATTACH TO HELPING HONG KONG TO ACHIEVE AN ACC-

EPTABLE SOLUTION.

4. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR INSTRUCTIONS IN DUE COURSE WHETHER THERE

IS ANYTHING WHICH YOU WOULD WISH US TO SAY TO ERNST IN REPLY TO HIS

APPROACH.

5. DODGE HAS SEEN THIS TELEGRAM IN DRAFT AND ASSUMES THAT GOVERNOR

HONG KONG WILL ADVISE YOU IN RESPECT OF PARAGRAPH 4 ABOVE.

F C O PASS PRIORITY HONG KONG AND UKMIS GENEVA AND SAVING TO WASH-

INGTON.

SIR J MARJCRIBANKS

REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION

COMMODITIES DEPT.

H.K. DEPT.

W.E.D.

FFFFF

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION

H.K. INT. TRADE

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