TNAG-0385-FCO40-431-Trade-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-EEC-1974 — Page 67

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr Stuart

181

Reference

982) 181

HKK 6/3.

EEC GSF

1.

I have discussed Mr Aston's letter of

23 November with EID, Miss Lowne and Miss welch in DTI.

2. As you will see, Mr Aston is undertaking to answer press inquiries in Hong Kong concerning the

Whilst in doing so he does not put himself in a position where he is in direct confrontation to the Governor, I suggest that he is getting into a very awkward position. I think we should deter him from taking on this commitment.

3. As regards guidance, Mr Aston has already received the two telegrams to the Governor (1143 and 1144) which gave full coverage to the points we wish to put across. Paragraph 5 of the first telegram answers points (a) to (e) of page 3 of Mr Aston's letter.

4.

I attach a draft telegram which I have cleared with EID and DTI (both CRE2 + C+T Div").

26 November 1973

of

Goodfellow

Hot

Ar request of ECD

hatter sent ro

elle

A Goodfellow

PA

2

de Aston about addressees

Spoken to Mr

Yonde.

He agrees

the Hay Kay Government

Contime t

Must

A press

line

across and that it me

ما

le put

allow tem

to slide out of this by shifting.

the duty onto the ever-withing Mr Aston,

will

be lost.

We will therefore

we

speak to D Jordan accordisty, and meanwhite tell me Aston

CONFIDENTIAL

DO 145177 219242 500M 4/73 GM 3643/2

we have already

that

he

can scho what