TNAG-0238-FCO40-274-Trade-relations-between-EEC-and-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 111

109

CYPHER/CAT A

PRIORITY BRUSSELS

CONFIDENTIAL

p.a.

TO

HONG KONG,

TELEGRAM NO. 42

22 OCTOBER 1970

221340Z

CONFIDENTIAL

ADDRESSED TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 42 OF 22 OCTOBER RF I TO UKMISS GENEVA (FOR JONES) AND SAVING TO HONG KONG

GOVERNMENT OFFICE, LONDON.

FROM DODGE.

ENLARGEMENT NEGOTIATIONS.

FURTHER TO MY TEL 40.

104

HKKG/6.

LAST NIGHT SIR CON O'NEILL BRIEFED COMMONWEALTH REPRESENTATIVES HERE ON YESTERDAY'S BRIEF MEETING OF DEPUTIES PRIOR TO MINISTERIAL

SESSION ON OCTOBER 27.

2. HE REPORTED THAT, UNDER THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES ITEM. THE COMMUNITY HAD GONE A LITTLE FURTHER IN RESPECT OF HONG KONG THAN ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS AND STATED THIS TIME THAT THEY HAD CONCLUDED THAT HONG KONG COULD NOT BE ASSIMILATED ALONG WITH THOSE OTHER DEPENDENT TERRITORIES WHICH THEY HELD, IN PRINCIPLE, TO BE APPROPRIATE FOR ASSOCIATION UNDER PART 4. SIR CON O'NEILL HAD THEN REPEATED HIS PREVIOUS STATEMENT OF REGRET, STRESSING H M G'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG'S EXTERNAL RELATIONS, AND

AGAIN EXPRESSED THE DESIRABILITY OF EARLY DISCUSSION OF THE PROBLEMS. THE SIX HAD APPARENTLY ADDED THAT HONG KONG WAS NOT ASSIMILABLE BECAUSE OF OUR ECONOMIC SITUATION AND EXPORT TRADE WHICH POSE SPECIAL PROBLEMS. THESE MUST BE CAREFULLY EXAMINED.

FCO PLEASE PASS PRIORITY TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG AND REPEAT ROUTINE TO UKMISS GENEVA. PLEASE ALSO PASS SAVING TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE, LONDON.

SIR J.BEITH

FILES

E.I.D. H.K.D.

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED EXCEPT H.K.GOVT OFFICE]

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON.

COPY TO:

CONFIDENTIAL