TNAG-0629-FCO40-777-Effect-of-GATT-Multi-Fibre-Arrangement-on-Hong-Kong-negotiat-1988 — Page 181

CONFIDENTIAL

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Mr Murray

P.A

HONG KONG: BRIEFING ON THE FUTURE OF THE MFA

Jeel

-ED IN

Y No. 51

15 AUG 1977

HKK 12

1616/1

1. Mr Stewart, who is away today, has asked me to show you the attached copy of a letter dated 27 July that he has received from Mr Dorward, the Acting Director of Commerce and Industry in Hong Kong.

2. I understand that Mr Stewart spoke to you last week about the outstanding request in paragraph 8 of your letter of 1 July to Sir Murray Maclehose for briefing from Hong Kong for use in the continuing discussions on the future of the MFA. Mr Dorward's letter shows that Hong Kong have not lost sight of this point but that, owing to the confused state of play on the MFA in recent weeks, they have not thought it worthwhile to brief us afresh on their interests. Since the next stage in the discussions on the future of the MFA the renegotiation of the bilateral agreement between the Community and Hong Kong will not get underway until the autumn, we in the department do not think it matters too much that Hong Kong have still to give us a briefing. The main point, I think, is that Mr Dorward's letter shows that Hong Kong regard the ball as being in their court.

D.F. Muillon

D F Milton

Hong Kong and

General Department

12 August 1977

Many Fucke

CONFIDENTIAL