M2. Stuart-
Mr Butler
COND IDEN AANVA
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HONG KONG REPRESENTATION IN THE EEC
1.
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Случа
Sir Duncan Watson has asked me to coordinate a reply to Sir Murray MacLehose's letter to him of 10 May (attached).
2.
The Governor's purpose is to up-grade the level of Hong Kong representation at Brussels by sending a former Colonial Secretary, with Ministerial rank, and by attaching him to the Permanent Representation rather than to our Embassy.
3. The first part of this proposition seems to me not unreasonable. It is true that Hong Kong have important relationships with the Community and the Community countries that merit high level representation. A former Colonial Secretary might well merit Ministerial (Grade 3) rank, and I know of no reason that would make Mr Burgess unsuitable to be attached to a British mission at this level.
4. You will have views on the proposal to transfer the liong Kong representative from the Embassy to the Permanent Representation. This would seem more debatable. Hong Kong is not an associate or an associable. On many matters we are now having to negotiate collectively with Hong Kong as part of the Community. On some subjects, e.g. textiles, this relationship takes on almost an adversary character. Although Hong Kong sits within our delegation, Kapwwxxxxxxxxxxx for example at meetings of the GATT, I am not sure that so close a relationship at the everyday working level in the Permanent Representation at Brussels will be practicable or desirable. On the other hand, if Mr Burgess is to come in as a Minister, it would presumably be difficult for him to continue to be attached to the Embassy since this would make him second in rank to the Ambassador and therefore, presumably, Chargé in the Ambassador's absence. This difficulty would not, of course, arise if he was part of the Permanent Representation.
5. I would be grateful for comments, including comments from those to whom this minute is copied. If there is general agreement on the change, presumably we shall have to consult Brussels before replying to the Governor. It is not clear when he is hoping for a reply. In his para. 12 he suggests agreement in June. But in para. 14 he asks for a telegraphic reply. The discrepancy is probably because the letter was clearly not drafted by Sir Murray MacLehose personally.
ACSLE
A C Stuart
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.
21 May 1974
CC
Sir D Watson
Mr Parsons, POD Mr Moberly, PPD Mr James, WED
CONFIDENTIAL
Page 90Page 91
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