TNAG-0242-FCO40-278-Conduct-of-Hong-Kong-commercial-relations-1970 — Page 150

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

As with the addition to paragraph 3, the new paragraph 8 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".

At the same meeting we touched on the ground covered by Eugene Melville in his letter to Bob Goldsmith dated 3 December. I think

had we seen this letter of Melville's sooner we would have come to the conclusion that it contained enough matters of substance to justify our asking you to take part in the di scus si ons. There is no doubt at all that Melville's points are of considerable importance, although you will be aware that when we were considering Hong Kong's draft together we did not have the question of the Colony's representation in international organisations so clearly in mind as the sort of contentious bilateral occasion (e.g. Hong Kong /Canada, Hong Kong/Norway) from which the need for explicit guidance has so largely

developed.

However it has so happened that the Governor himself suggested an amendment to paragraph 4 which is in effect an acknowledg- ment that in relation to paragraph 4 special arrangements for the conduct of relations may be required where Hong Kong is formally represented by HMG, e.g. in certain inter- national organisations. The Governor asked for this amendment because he felt continuing concern about the lack of precise definitiom in the meaning of the words "as appropriate " in paragraph 4. In our recollection of the earlier discussions with Jordan in September, these words were inserted to indicate that

there would be situations where Hong Kong could not "exercise responsibility" or speak

for itself and in its own name, e.g. in certain

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