CONFIDENTIAL
Brief No.1 for
Meeting between UK and Hong Kong Officials
at FCO: 23 November 1970
Background
In 1967 we had a series of meetings, on two separate occasions, with Hong Kong officials to of our negotiations to join the DC. meetings will follow the same lines.
discuss various aspects The present series of While in Hong Kong
lii. ippon agreed that such a series would serve a useful purpose. Although since 1967, with the important exception of the UNCTAD Preferences Scheme, there have been row develop- ments to affect our negotiating position on behalf of Hong Kong, the Governor attaches considerable importance to being seen to be in close touch with HMG. Like some other
Commonwealth countries and territories, Hong Kong values consultation with us perhaps as much for its public relations content as for what comes out of the discussions.
Objective
2. The objective of this consultation is to discuss with Hong Kong officials the steps which we might take in negotiations with the Community to safeguard Hong Kong's
escential interests. These talks will be entirely without
commitment. The final decision on the safeguards which we might try to secure for Hong Kong rests with HIG, and must be taken in the context of our overall negotiating position and tactics. While we shall be discussing Hong Kong's relations to our negotiations, Hong Kong officials will also take this opportunity to discuss with their British counterparts other subjects of mutual interest on which fuller briefing has
been prepared elsewhere.
1961/3
3.
egotiations
No provisional areoment had been reached before the previous round of negotiations ended. The Six rejected the original British proposal that Hong Kong should be associated with the enlarged Community under Part IV of the Treaty of Rome.
/They
CONFIDENTIAL
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