CONF
ENTIAL
3.
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standing completely outside the Community as neither a Member nor an Associate, made it necessary that the Mission there should notify the Community and the GATT that UK membership would not affect Hong Kong's position and that the UK for Hong Kong" would continue to have a separate voice in the GATT. This was, so far as I know, accepted by the Community and by the Contracting Parties without question and I think the position is well understood. We believe that the arrangement works well.
9.
We have therefore wondered whether a similar arrangement would be acceptable in Brussels, i.e. whether our office there might now come formally under the Permanent Representative's umbrella. The continued separation of the two functions of the UK as a Member State and the UK for Hong Kong would be emphasised by the Hong Kong man continuing to operate from a completely separate office. He would not in practice operate differently from before (just as the Hong Kong Affairs Counsellor in Geneva does not) but this change would establish the right of 'the UK for Hong Kong
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to have access to the Commission and others to the extent appropriate for a non-Member of the Community.
10.
However, the important thing, I think,
is to establish a more effective presence, and so far as the formalities are concerned, it is perhaps for those directly concerned in London and Brussels to say where a new man could best be fitted in. But I do think the question should be looked at afresh.
11.
I am concerned to make these changes on their merits, and because of the need to come to a better understanding with member states of how Hong Kong's trade in Europe can be reconciled with their interests, and because of the importance of the trade to Hong Kong. But it would also be very well received here as a sign that the Government, with UK approval and support, was doing everything it could to promote Hong Kong's interest.
12.
I would be most grateful if you would now institute consideration of these proposals, so
CONFIDENT
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.