TNAG-1394-FCO40-1866-Future-of-Hong-Kong-interest-from-other-countries-1985 — Page 14

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decisions.

the paper.]

[More on this at the end of

iii) Also problems about giving our

relationship an explicit and regular

"triangle" form. A visible "directoire"

would be divisive, especially at a time

of Enlargement and given Italian,

Benelux and Spanish sensitivities in

particular. The triangle group may in

any case not be the right, or sufficient

motive force for all purposes: role also

for the inner group of 6-7 involved in

WEU, etc (although we are unlikely to

make good our objectives in such groups

in complete separation from or

opposition to the Germans and French).

[ Cross-reference with "Enlargement"

paper.]

iv) also implications for the distribution

of our diplomatic effort and resources

across the board. We still have a

distinct national interest in nurturing

relations with US, major regional and

Commonwealth powers, and other Europeans

as well. NB that some of our potential

leverage within a triangle will depend

on the strength of our expertise and our

relationships outside it.

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