TNAG-0374-FCO40-420-Discussions-with-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 141

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to abolish the death sentence in the Colony

an action a policy

which would nevertheless be strongly resented by a

majority of public opinion there. I see, however, no

valid alternative.

6.

Another issue where our interests vary is in

relation to the EEC preferences scheme which we are

due to enforce from 1 January 1974 which will have the

effect of causing us to discriminate, in certain vital

fields of Hong Kong exports, in favour of the Colony's

competitors and against the Colony. Not only will they

have lost Commonwealth preference, but we shall be

raising an additional barrier against their trade in

textiles and footwear. At present I cannot see how

this can be justified to the Colony and may have to

recommend that this matter must be raised again in

Brussels. We may not win there, but we must at least

be seen to have tried to defend their interest.

7. Air services agreements in which Britain gains

handsomely by having disposal of landing rights at

Hong Kong in its gift (while paying nothing for the

building or maintenance of the facilities at Kai Tak)

is another bone of contention. In the context of the

EEC negotiations we decided for political reasons

that it was in the United Kingdom interest to permit

KLM a service to Hong Kong. Now SAS want a similar

service and the Hong Kong Government regard it as

very much in their interest that it should be granted.

in London But this is opposed on civil aviation grounds where it

is held that it would not be in the UK interest.

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