TNAG-0385-FCO40-431-Trade-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-EEC-1974 — Page 136

CONFIDENTIAL

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CONFIDENTIAL

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TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELNO 1265 OF 5TH NOVEMBER,

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153 (151) (150)

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 1095.

WHILE I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE EFFORTS YOU HAVE MADE, AND FOR THE AGREEMENT TO PRESS HONG KONG'S CASE HAND IN 1974. I APPRECIATỔ

THE EXTENT OF THIS ACHIEVEMENT IN WHITEHALL TERMS, AND AM RELIEVED THAT THE DECISION WAS NOT TO REFUSE TO TAKE UP THE ISSUE

AT ALL, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN THE WORST CASE AND WOULD HAVE BEEN

VERY BADLY RECEIVED HERE. HOWEVER THIS WOULD BE REGARDED WERE

ONLY AS THE LEAST WHICH H.M.O. COULD HAVE DONE, AND THERE WILL RE

SOME DISAPPOINTMENT ABOUT THE PRESENT AND SCEPTICISM ABOUT THE

FUTURE,

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THOUGH THERE MAY BE FAVOURABLE REACTION TO FIRST REFOLTS

THAT THE U.K. HAS AGREED TO RAISE THE HONG KONG QUESTION AT THE

HIGHEST COMMUNITY LEVEL, I FEAR IT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY DISILLU- STONMENT WHEN IT IS REALISED THAT YOU INTEND TO PRESS IT ONLY IN NEXT

YEAR'S REVIEW.

THE DELAY SINCE THE UK/HK DISCUSSIONS IN JULY AND THE DESPATCH

OF THE INDUSTRY'S PETITION IN AUGUST HAVE RAISED HOPES THAT

SOMETHING WOULD BE DONE, EVEN IF IT WERE ONLY POSTPONEMENT

OF THE UK'S ALIGNMENT WITH THE SIX'S SCHEME,

AFTER ALL, IT WAS ONLY ON 17 OCTOBER THAT MR. DAVIES SAID IN PARLIAMENT, THE UK WILL ALIGN TO THE EEC'S GAP ON 1 JANUARY 1974;

THIS SCHEME IS AT PRESENT UNDER DISCUSSION IN BRUSSELS. WE ARE SCEK -

ING AND SHALL CONTINUE TO SEEK TO IMPROVE IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE

PARIS SUMMIT COMMUNIQUE. IN THESE DISCUSSIONS WE SHALL CONTINUE TO

DO ALL WE CAN TO SAFEGUARD HONG KONG'S INTERESTS,

DISCUSSIONS IN BRUSSELS APPEARED TO PROVIDE THE

APPROPYLATE TIME AND PLACE TO REVIEW THE SCHEME FOR 1974 AND IT IS

KNOWN THAT SOME CHANCES ARE GOING TO BE MADE. HONG KONG PEOPLE

THESE

CONFIDENTIAL

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