TNAG-0463-FCO40-528-Entitlement-of-Hong-Kong-to-EEC-Generalised-Scheme-of-Prefer-1974 — Page 132

62)

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr Stuart, HIOD, K 246N

REGIST RY No. 51

HONG KONG: G$P

1.

-3-

3

1974

HKK 6/598/1

Reference.....

(68)

New version of Gaby ran

version

agreed with M.

as amended

Haft. ?/A A

I have discussed with Mr Butler Hong Kong telegram No 585 in the context of what advance warning we could give to the Governor about what the Secretary of State intends to say on Hong Kong in his renegotiation statement in the Council on 4 June. As I told you on the telephone our preference is to wait until 3 June before replying to the telegram by when it is expected that the Secretary of State will have approved the statement.

2. I have not yet seen the so called "agreed version" of the Memorandum on Hong Kong and the GSP but the Department of Trade have agreed to send me a copy urgently. I should like to have an opportunity of studying this before expressing a view on whether it would be appropriate to follow up the Secretary of State's statement by the presentation in EEC capitals of the Memorandum. As you will know we had certain reservations about Mr Jordan's first draft.

I

3. I attach a draft telegram which, if you agree, suggest we should aim to send to Hong Kong on Monday 3 June as soon as we have heard that the Secretary of State has approved the statement.

Aage Start.

R D Hart EID(E) Dept

31 May 1974

Copied to:

JB Ingram Esq

Department of Trade

CRE I

Miss C Welch

Department of Trade

Department of Trade CRE II