TNAG-1401-FCO40-1873-Future-of-Hong-Kong-continued-participation-in-the-General-A-1985 — Page 196

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FM HONG KONG 20015OZ MAR 85

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 565 OF 20 MARCH

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKMIS GENEVA

Toho 394

Lupy

please.

&

INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, WASHINGTON, BRUSSELS

15

YOUR TELNO 394: HONG KONG'S FUTURE POSITION IN THE GATT AND CCC.

1. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEL UNDER REF. WE LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING A.S.A.P. THE INFORMATION/COMMENTS REFERRED TO IN PARAS 1 AND 3.

2. YOUR PARA 4. WE AGREE THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY BE PREMATURE TO DISCUSS HONG KONG'S PARTICIPATION IN THE GATT AT THE FIRST MEETING OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, WHICH IS LIKELY TO BE CONCERNED MAINLY WITH PROCEDURAL MATTERS. NEVERTHELESS WE BELIEVE WE SHOULD TRY TO WORK OUT OUR POSITION AND TACTICS IN TIME FOR THE FIRST JLG MEETING IN CASE THE CHINESE RAISE THE QUESTION. IN ANY CASE, SINCE WE ARE AGREED THAT AN EXPERT SUB-GROUP WOULD NEED TO BE SET UP UNDER THE JLG TO DEAL WITH GATT, MFA, ETC. (PARA 11 OF YOUR TELNO 265, NOT TO ALL) THERE IS AT LEAST THE POSSIBILITY OF THE QUESTION BEING DISCUSSED SOME TIME BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND MEETINGS OF THE JLG. WE SHOULD THEREFORE WISH TO BE IN A POSITION TO PUT PROPOSALS TO EXCO FAIRLY SHORTLY AS ENVISAGED IN PARA 1 OF OUR TELNO 294,

YOUDE

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MINIMAL

HKD ECD (E)

COPIES TO:

MR BURROWS

>

LEGAL ADVISERS

MISS WILMSHURST)

MR HALLET, ECONOMIC ADVISER

HKGO, LONDON

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