TNAG-0248-FCO40-284-Effect-of-entry-of-UK-into-EEC-on-exports-from-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 4

Mr. Laird

Reference.

(40)

.13/€..

EEC Negotiation Briefing Meetings in

London.

In FCO telegram 403 of 16 June to dependent territories (including Hong Kong, para. 4 states:-

2.

"Accordingly we will let you have accounts of meetings of interest to the Government of your territory. We shall also be happy to brief where appropriate the representatives in London of such Governments as are represented here".

The Hong Kong Government representative in London has asked to be able to attend briefing meetings but, from Mr. Brind's minute of 8 July, this has evidently been resisted. The reason for this refusal is that, should the Hong Kong Government representative be invited, it would be difficult not to include also representatives from other dependent territories such as Gibraltar which has only a tourist represent- ative.

3. The Commonwealth Year Book will have a list of Government Offices in London which will include Brunei, Hong Kong, Eastern Caribean Commission and the Seychelles only. Government' tourist offices will be shown in a separate list. Copy of galley proof for the 1970 Year Book is attached.

3.

It would be of help to Hong Kong if their representative can be permitted to attend briefing meetings. It would seem that the main cause of objection to this will have been removed by re- printing of the list of Government Offices in London.

Kime.

(G.F. Kinnear) 9 July, 1970