HKK 6/18
CONFIDENTIAL
14 January, 1970.
Hong Kong Commercial selations.
Michael #ilford had a further meeting with David Treach (who was back in London for a short time before returning to Hong Kong) at which they resumed discussion of the draft document which emerged from our own meeting with Trench on 26 November about the conduct of liong Kong's commercial relations. Notice of this occasion was somewhat short end we did not feel justified in asking if you wished to attend yourself or to send a reprezentative. In any event we had rather hoped that no matter of enough substance to make this necessary would arise.
2.
Trench was armed with the telegraphic comments of his officials which, as I told you in my letter of 2 December, he had asked us to obtain. As a result we now propose amendments to paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 of the original text, and the addition of a new paragraph 8 (with consequent renumbering of the remaining paragraphs). These amendments and additions are reflected in the attached revised text of our document (where they have been under- lined).
Hong
3. The suggested amendment to paragraph 1 takes some account - although by no means as much as Hong Kong would like - of the view that where there is a difference of opinion between the Hong Kong Government and ourselves about how the Colony's interests can best be served Hong Kong's views should normally prevail. In the case of parazrash 3 the final sentence which we suggest might be inserted does no more than leave the choice of venue (for negotiations where British international commercial policy is not involved) for decision between Hong Kong and the third party concerned. Kong have said they t ink the amendment "is of some importance".
4.
As with the addition to paragraph 3, the new paragraph & seems quite unnecessary but useful for presentation purposes in Hong Kong. We cannot pretend that we like it and I imagine your own feelings will not be too different, but at least the proposal is that Hong Kong, as well as ourselves, should recognise the need for speedy decisions. On that mutual basis we have no objection in this office. Trench himself appeared to attach importance to it for "consumption in Hong Kong".
W. Hughes, Esq., C.B.,
Foard of Trade.
CONFIDENTIAL
15.
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