TNAG-0238-FCO40-274-Trade-relations-between-EEC-and-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 156

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NEVERTHELESS FIRM ACTUAL DATES BE AGREED FOR SUBSTANTIVE

NEGOTIATIONS DURING WHICH THE H K GOVERNMENT COULD FORMALLY

DECIDE IF THE FULL JUSTIFICATION BY THEN PRESENTED BY THE E E C

WAS ADEQUATE FOR ITS PURPOSES.

3. THE COMMISSION THOUGHT THAT TWO FULL DAYS OF NEGOTITION ATTENDED BY THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEMBER STATES WOULD BE

ADEQUATE. THEREAFTER COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVES WOULD STILL BE

AVAILABLE AS REQUIRED FOR DRAFTING AND FOLLOW-UP FORMALITIES.

ON THIS BASIS THE COMMISSION HAVE NOW SET ASIDE THE FIRST TWO DATES HONG KONG OFFERED, 1.E, MONDAY AND TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 23, FOR SUBSTANTIVE NEGOTIATIONS, ERNST HIMSELF WILL BE AVAILABLE LATER IN THE WEEK ON OCCASIONS AS REQUIRED. THE WEEK OF OCTOBER

26 15 NOT CONVENIENT.

4. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL AGREE THAT HONG KONG'S POINT HAS BEEN

MET IN PRINCIPLE: AND I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF HONG KONG WOULD

ARRANGE TO SEND ITS DELEGATION TO BRUSSELS ON THE DATES IN

QUESTION.

5. ERNST STRESSED AGAIN THAT ENTERING INTO THE FORMAL NEGOTIATIONS

IN NO WAY COMMITTED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO ACCEPT ANY OR

ALL OF THE COMMUNITY'S OFFER.

6. DODGE HAS SEEN THIS TELEGRAM IN DRAFT AND AGREES WITH IT.

F C O PSE PASS PRIORITY TO HONG KONG ROUTINE TO BONN THE HAGUE

PARIS ROME UKMIS GENEVA (FOR JONES)

ALSO PSE PASS COPY TO HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON

PASSED SAVING TO BRUSSELS

SIR J MARJORI BANKS

INTERNAZIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION COMMODITIES DEPT.

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION

HONG KONG INT TRADE

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