TNAG-0633-FCO40-781-Effect-of-GATT-Multi-Fibre-Arrangement-on-Hong-Kong-negotiat-1977 — Page 29

GR 195

PRIORITY

CYPHER CAT A

FM HONG KONG 2204052

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

#KK 121

ENDS

4.36

6.6/1

TO PRIORITY F C O TELNO 1298 OF 22 DECEMBER 1977

INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, BRUSSELS (FOR BURGESS), GENEVA (FOR TSAO).

FROM ACTING GOVERNOR,

HK/EEC TEXTILES NEGOTIATIONS.

IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL YESTERDAY, MR FRANCIS TIEN REFERRED

TO HMG'S PARTICIPATION IN DISCRIMINATORY MEASURES AGAINST

HONG KONG AND TO THE BITTERNESS FELT BY THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG

AS A RESULT OF THIS ACTION, AND ASKED THE HKG TO CONSIDER

MAKING A STRONG PROTEST TO HMG. IN REPLY, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY EXPLAINED THE OBJECTIVES OF THE EXCHANGES BETWEEN HKG AND HMG

BEFORE AND DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS, AND ADDED THAT, IF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS SO WISHED, HE WOULD SEE THAT THEIR FEELINGS

OF DISMAY WERE FORMALLY CONVEYED TO THE S OF S.

2. TEN SUPPLEMENTARIES FOLLOWED. UNOFFICIALS CONFIRMED THEY

WOULD LIKE THEIR FEELINGS CONVEYED TO THE S OF S. THEY ALSO ASKED

ME TO SEEK ASSURANCES FROM HMG OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENTS CONTINUING

CONCERN FOR THE WELFARE OF HONG KONG.

3. A TEXT OF THE EXCHANGE IS IN MIFT.

4. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF THE ASSURANCE SOUGHT COULD BE GIVEN

IN A FORM SUITABLE FOR ME TO CONVEY TO MEMBERS.

ROBERTS

FILES

HK & GD (5)

EID

PS

COPIES TO

SIR A DUFF

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

MR CORTAZZI

MR HIBBERT

PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS MP MURRAY

PS/PUS

MR FRETWELL

CONFIDENTIAL