TNAG-1394-FCO40-1866-Future-of-Hong-Kong-interest-from-other-countries-1985 — Page 17

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(i) do not fit into old pattern of Franco-German

interest;

(ii) do not fit easily into traditional structures

of cooperation; and/or

(iii) cannot be tackled on a basis of European

insularity, ie. should put our extra-European

connections and experience at a premium;

effect of enlargement in making European leaders

more conscious of need for cohesion among/firm

steering by an "inner group".

[The list is not exhaustive and this section may need

to be more carefully structured]

b)

Modalities of Action

Two points to be borne generally in mind:

i) The practical/political pitfalls. Must allow for

Eg:

factors not fully under our control.

because we see identical or complementary

interests in a certain area with France, Germany

or both, the others are not bound to see it the

same way. May take a different view of whether

cooperation is necessary or desirable; and/or may

not be capable of delivering goods, for

bureaucratic or political reasons;

the others will not necessarily share our view of

linkage and balance. May let our failure to

cooperate or appreciate their needs on some quite

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