CONFIDENTIAL
CIRCUMSTANCES, NO REPRESENTATIONS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM WOULD DETER THE COMMISSION PROCEEDING, AS THEY SEE IT, TO ACT IN PURSUANCE OF THEIR MANDATE, EVEN IF THIS MEANT THAT THE SHARE OF THE CAKE FOR THE LATECOMERS (INTO WHICH CATEGORY HONG KONG HAS NOW PLACED HERSELF) WAS DIMINISHED. TRAN IS DETERMINED THAT ONLY CRUMBS WILL REMAIN FOR THOSE WHO PLAY THE WAITING
GAME.
4. THE COMMISSION'S GRUDGING WILLINGNESS TO LEAVE ROOM FOR HONG KONG FOR THE MOMENT WAS, MOREOVER, NOT IMPROVED BY THE ABSENCE OF EVEN TENTATIVE HINTS THAT HONG KONG WOULD BE WILLING TO TALK SERIOUSLY BY THE END OF NOVEMBER. THIS MADE IT ALL THE MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO REJECT THE GROWING CHORUS OF REQUESTS FROM THE POOREST EXPORTERS (EG. SRI LANKHA) WHO OBJECTIVELY SPEAKING HAD A SOUNDER CASE FOR LESS HARSH TREATMENT THAN HONG KONG FOR A MODEST SHARE OF HONG KONG'S SLICE. AND THE WILLINGNESS OF THE SOUTH KOREANS TO ACCEPT THE CONCEPT OF CUTBACKS AND TO NEGOTIATE ABOUT THEIR EXTENT ALSO THREW HONG KONG'S POSITION INTO UNFAVOURABLE RELIEF.
5. THESE CONVERSATIONS OF COURSE TOOK PLACE BEFORE BUT GO SOME WAY TO EXPLAIN NEWS OF THE LATEST COMMISSION DECISION (MY TELNO 6991).
FCO ADVANCE TO:
FCO
STERN EID(E): STEWART (HKD)
(DESKBY 181500Z)
MAITLAND
FRAME EXTERNAL
EID.
HKAND GD.
[ADVANCED AS
REQUESTED]
2
CONFIDENTIAL
ADDITIONAL DISTA
FRAME
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