TNAG-0466-FCO40-531-Hong-Kong-s-interests-in-EEC-capitals-1974 — Page 136

**CRPS7710

PRIORITY

CYPHER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 120330Z

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

TO PRIORITY F C O TELNO 36 OF 12TH JANUARY, 1974.

YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 8.

FOR STUART FROM JORDAN.

لام

LAST REF.

8

HONG KONG'S INTEREST IN EEC CAPITALS.

MAG

AS YOU WILL KNOW, THE PROPOSAL ACTUALLY CAME FROM MR. ROYLE HIMSELF. I REPORTED IT ON MY RETURN AND THE VIEW HERE IS THAT IT IS A VERY CONSTRUCTIVE SUGGESTION AND ONE WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE

PURSUED.

2. WE HAVE NOT CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS IN MUCH DETAIL. CERTAINLY WE DO NOT ENVISAGE SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT INVOLVING A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE WORKLOAD OF THE COMMERCIAL SECTIONS OF THE MISSIONS CONCERNED, HOWEVER, BUT RATHER A FOCUSSING OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR WORK WHICH IS PROBABLY ALREADY BEING DONE IN MANY

CASES.

3.

ESSENTAILLY WE WOULD ENVISAGE THE OFFICERS CONCERNED PROVIDING PRIMARY CONTACT POINTS FOR OUR OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN COMMERCIAL POLICY ACTIVITIES, ABLE TO GIVE ADVICE ON HOW THE LATTER MIGHT BEST PURSUE THEIR INTERESTS. IF THE EMBASSY OFFICERS WERE AT THE SAME TIME GIVEN A PARTICULAR RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP IN MIND THAT CERTAIN SUBJECTS AND ACTIVITIES MIGHT BE OF INTEREST TO HONG KONG, I THINK THEY COULD BE OF VALUABLE ASSISTANCE TO US WITHOUT TAKING ON A SIGNIFICANT. ADDITIONAL BURDEN: FOR EXAMPLE BY SIMPLY COFYING DOCUMENTS TO US OR TELEPHONING THE COUNSELLOR FOR

HONG KONG COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS IN BRUSSELS TO ALERT HIM TO A SITUATION. WE WOULD CERTAINLY NOT EXPECT THE KIND OF DIRECT INVOLVEMENT

IN OUR AFFAIRS THAT IS REQUIRED OF THOSE WHO AT PRESENT REPRESENT OUR INTERESTS IN WASHINGTON, BRUSSELS OR GENEVA.

CONFIDENTIAL

/ 4. OUR

14.