TNAG-0384-FCO40-430-Trade-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-EEC-1973 — Page 31

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

which was not true of other Commonwealth

mads

We had

only

countries, despite ur undertakings to do

what we could for them once we were in the

Community.

5..

Mr. Robinson said the Hong Kong case

was in fact a parelle 14 to the domestic

ed

case at home. If we push Hong Kong's case

hard it would have to be taken to the

Council of Ministers where a rebuff would

be inevitable. This would inevitably lead

to unfavourable and damaging press comment

here.

Mr. Royle said that he did not see

that a lost battle would damage HMG's

interests since we would at least have been

seen to be fighting seriously for long

Kong

He stressed the need to go into negotiation

on Hong Kong with the real intention of

succeeding. He would take any rap there

was but did not think there would be much

of one. There might well ce many Labour

and Conservative anti-marketeers who would

be lobbied by Hong Kong and would press

Hong Kong's case actively in the House of

Commons. Mr. Robinson said that neither

the D.T.I. nor Hong Kong really believed

that Hong Kong would suffer from the

G.S.P.

Mr. Royle, however, pointed out

-5-

/the