TNAG-0466-FCO40-531-Hong-Kong-s-interests-in-EEC-capitals-1974 — Page 77

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KK.6/598/20 (40)

CONFIDENTIAL - STAFF IN A FORDENCE HKK.

Mr K BA Scott (POD CG 011)

BAScott

Reference.

HONG KONG REPRESENTATION IN THE EEC

1.

As you know neither we nor Sir Michael Palliser were happy about Sir Murray MacLehose's suggestion that Hong Kong Representation in the EEC should be transferred from the Embassy in Brussels to our Mission to the EEC. The Governor has accepted this.

2.

We agreed however, that it would be appropriate for Hong Kong's Representation to be raised to Ministerial level. (The Governor's intention is that this should be in addition to the Counsellor post). A problem is created since the Number Two in our Embassy is a Counsellor. Your minute of 31 May suggests that there should be no difficulty in Hong Kong affairs being looked after by a Minister provided it were made clear that he would not take charge in the Ambassador's absence. Mr Muirhead (Brussels telegram no 199) suggests in Paragraph 3 that an awkward question of precedence might be met by designating his Counsellor as Minister. We discussed this but you were against creating more posts of this nature.

3.

comment

I attach a draft telegram in reply to Mr Muirhead which attempts to answer both angles.

17 June 1974

M A Goodfellow

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept K245

MA 625

Sorry to

have

held

this

We too

Lave

ир

The

how

discursed with

I have made

the craft telgram

Mr

нко

Goodfelloys, HKLO 1).

متنا

Govenor.

two small amendments to

Del desparched

Kußen Scod

кова

POD

شاید

CON IDENTILL-STAR IN CONFIDENCE.

CONVIDENTIZL