TNAG-1150-FCO40-1430-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-European-Community-1982 — Page 62

Eco 598/2

Bank of America Tower

14

*** XX

ט

MKK 02212

Enten

16/3 1

Par 17/3

(EC Presidency and Hong Kong) 5 Larch 1982

See (17)

attached to

Would you please refer to your letter of 12 January and my interim reply of 21 Jánuery about the preparation by EC Commercial Counsellors or Consul Generals of economic reports. I wandertook to obtain instructions from my Government having regard to the special political relationship between Hong Kong and the United Kingio3,

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London have confirmed that in view of my special constitutional position vis-a-vis the Governor of Hong Kong and the fact that I am neither a Commercial Counsellor nor a Consul-General, I should not officially participate in the production of reports on the territory. However because I recognise that, as Senior British Trade Commissioner in Hong Kong, I could perhaps assist my Community colleagues in the drafting of such reports, I should be very willing to participate on an unofficial and informal basis in any meetings which are set up for that purpose,

NA

It happens that I have just received from the 20 Commission the enclosed documents dated 15 December about the reparation of a questionnaire on joint European Community information activity. They appear to have been despatched by sea mail and I can do no more than forward them to you. set out above and also because I do not have an information role

For the reasons in Hong Kong, I fear I shall not be able to contribute to the preparation of the reply,

I am sorry it has taken a little time to clarify the situation. Hong Kong appears to be unique in Community terme because it is the only inhabited dependant territory of a manber state which does not have a special relationship with the Community defined in one of the treaties or associated documents. At the same time because, unlike other dependant territories, it has a major economy and pursues an active and independent economic aud commercial policy, it clearly merits the preparation of "Commercial Counsellors' reports" for the Commission. Ly problem is that my special constitutional status vis-a-vis the Governor da clearly a bar to my playing the full role of a Commercial Counsellor/Consul-General as envisaged by various Council decisions.

copied to Miss Lambert,

CGE

16/3

{CD(E)

A Christian LC Fellena

Consul-General of Belgium bcc:

D M Karch

Senior Trade Commissioner

РА, НИС

RD Clift, HKGD