CONFIDENTIAL
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5. ASSURING THAT WE DO AGREE FORMALLY DEFORE THE END OF SEPTEMBER TO NEGOTIATIONS (AS SUCH) AND THAT HE OBTAINS MEMBER STATES AGREEMENT (WHICH ERNST SAYS IS HOW NECESSARY IF THE MEETING IS NOT TO TAKE PLACE IN SEPTEMBER AS EXPECTED) HE WOULD BE READY TO MEET US, IF NECESSARY FOR A WEEK, VIRTUALLY ANY TIME IN CCTOBER, BUT STILL HOPES THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS WOULD CHLY LAST TWO DAYS. 1 MENTIONED YOUR PREFERENCE FOR THE SECOND HALF OF OCTOBER. YOUR REPLY SHOULD OFFER SPECIFIC DATES.
6.
ÉRNST STRESSED THAT HONG KONG'S ANSWER MUST NOW BE FORMAL AND IN WRITING. HE STATED THAT IF A FORMAL REPLY IS NOT RECEIVED BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER IT WOULD IN EFFECT INDICATE OUR REJECTION OF THE EEC OFFER AND OUR REJECTION OF FORMAL NEGOTIATIONS AS SUCH.
7. HE ACTUALLY FURTHER COMMENTED THAT YOUR PROPOSAL OF "RESUMED (UNDERLINE NEXT WORD) CONSULTATIONS''
IN ANSWER TO HIS INVITATION TO NEGOTIATIONS IMPLIED TO HIM A FORMAL REJECTION OF NEGOTIATIONS AS SUCH, BUT I COOLED HIM DOWN TO SOME EXTENT ON THAT ONE.
8. IT WOULD NOW BE APPROPRIATE IF I COULD DELIVER OUR FORMAL WRITTEN REPLY TOGETHER WITH DORWARD'S DOCUMENTS, WHICH HAVE NOT YET BEEN RECEIVED HERE, IN EXTENSION OF THEM, AS IT WERE, AND I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR FULL FORMAL TEXT BY TELEGRAM.
FCO PLEASE PASS PRIORITY TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG AND UKMIS GENEVA FOR JONES AND SAVING TO FCO DEPARTMENT AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT LONDON OFFICE.
SIR J.BEITH
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED TO HONG KONG
& U.K.MISSION GENEVA]
INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
HONG KONG DEPT.
HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL TRADE
CONFIDENTIAL
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
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