TNAG-0248-FCO40-284-Effect-of-entry-of-UK-into-EEC-on-exports-from-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 31

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13 July, 1970.

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I have been thinking over the sugge tion you made on Friday that it might be a good idea for you to pay a visit to Hiongong in the period of the summer holidays, during which we are unlikely to be making any progress with the Community. I have come to the conclusion that this would be a good and useful idea, so I am writing to say that, if the Bond of Trade would like you to make this journey, there would be no objection at all from us.

There are one or two conflictin, considerations which I know you will bear in mind. on the one hand, one does not wish to give the imprension to the Community that long long is necessarily going to be a source of major difficulty in the negotiations;

egotiations; or to long Yong that we are necesarily going to be able to secure any- thing significant on their behalf. On the other hand, it is desirable that we should show goodwill and con- cern to Hong Kong about, their problems.

For all these reasons, while hoping that your journey to Hong Kong might attract as little attention there or anywhere else do possible, you will no doubt agree that it would be desirable to have a line of ex- planation about it which would so far as possible be consistent with the above considerations.

Dhe conclusion I draw from this is that it might, on balance, be preferable if you were able to visit Hong Kong on behalf of the Board of Trade in somE capacity other then esclusively that of a member of the Brussels negotiating tean, But so for us I know you do not at present have any other capacity.

anything that can be done to meet this mi.. Is there

G.. Denman, Esq., C.M.G.,

BOARD OF TRAÏE.

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(C. O'Neil1)